square mile

American  

[skwair mahyl] / ˈskwɛər ˈmaɪl /

noun

square miles plural

1. a unit of area measurement equal to a square measuring one mile on each side; equivalent to 2.59 square kilometers. mi 2 , sq. mi.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• square miles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of square mile

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

square mile

In some parts of the U.S. territory, their numbers have climbed as high as 30,000 snakes per square mile.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

Today, Hood County has the sixth most planned data centers among Texas counties; per square mile, it ranks third.

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026

Secretary of State William Seward paid roughly $12 per square mile of Alaska in 1867.

From Barron's ● Jan. 8, 2026

It essentially entails trying to locate one square mile of activity in a 1,000-square-mile search area, Hunnicutt said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 31, 2025

My uncle claimed that more bugs lived per square mile in southern Georgia than anywhere in the state.

From "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata