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

And unlike the superconducting loops favored by International Business Machines and Google, which must be chilled to temperatures colder than deep space, photonic interconnects can operate at room temperature.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

"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

If you’re bringing something that needs to stay cold — a mayonnaise-based salad, a dairy-heavy dip, anything that shouldn’t spend hours at room temperature — think about how it will travel.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

When the atoms are cold, the surrounding system operates at room temperature, which eliminates the need for bulky cryogenic cooling chambers.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

The jar of mayonnaise and the sliced ham are room temperature, too.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina