microgram

¹ American  

[mahy-kruh-gram] / ˈmaɪ krəˌgræm /

especially British, microgramme

noun

1. a unit of mass or weight equal to one millionth of a gram, used chiefly in microchemistry. μg

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microgram ² American  

[mahy-kruh-gram] / ˈmaɪ krəˌgræm /

noun

1. micrograph.

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Etymology

Origin of microgram¹

First recorded in 1885–90; micro- + -gram ²

Origin of microgram²

micro- + -gram ¹

Example Sentences

According to the California Department of Public Health, the average blood lead level for adults in the United States is less than 1 microgram per deciliter.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2025

Even with a supernova occurring within the so-called "kill radius" of less than ten parsecs, not even a microgram of matter from the envelope will land on each square centimeter.

From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2023

They found that peanut, cashew, hazelnut, walnut, milk, and sesame allergens were incredibly low in the SpoonfulOne food puffs: less than 1 microgram of food allergen per gram of food puff.

From Slate • Feb. 6, 2023

Billings said these benefits are far greater if the standard was just one microgram per cubic meter lower — preventing up to 12,000 premature deaths.

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2023

In the course of these investigations, balances that would weigh up to 10.5 mg with a sensitivity of 0.02 microgram were developed.

From A Brief History of Element Discovery, Synthesis, and Analysis by Watson, Glen W.