room temperature

American  

[room tem-per-uh-cher, -choor, -pruh-, -per-cher, room] / ˈrum ˈtɛm pər ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər, -prə-, -pər tʃər, ˈrʊm /

noun

1. a temperature at which food, drink, medicine, etc., is neither cooled nor heated.

   Unopened, our sauces can be stored at room temperature for months, but opened jars must be refrigerated.

   The cheeses are best served at room temperature.

2. any indoor temperature that falls within a range considered comfortable for human occupancy.

   We tested the strength of the bond at room temperature and at 140°F.

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room temperature British  

noun

1. the normal temperature of a living room, usually taken as being around 20°C

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Etymology

Origin of room temperature

First recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

"Our proof-of-concept device showcases rapid, scalable charging and energy storage at room temperature, laying the groundwork for next-gen energy solutions," he said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2026

The approach provides a distinct advantage: Xanadu’s machines will be able to function at room temperature, eliminating the need for the bulky refrigerators needed to cool the components of most computers to absolute zero.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The Microsoft researchers estimated that the glass could survive for more than 10,000 years at a blistering 290 degrees Celsius, which suggests the data could last even longer at room temperature.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

Keep the pot at room temperature to cool.

From Salon • Jan. 10, 2026

I take off, looking for a water dispenser with one of those hot taps for making tea, so I can quickly pour the perfect mix of hot and cold to achieve room temperature.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein