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tonne

American  
[tuhn] / tʌn /

noun

  1. metric ton.


tonne British  
/ tʌn /

noun

  1. Also called (not in technical use): metric ton.  a unit of mass equal to 1000 kg or 2204.6 pounds

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tonne

From French, dating back to 1900–05; see origin at ton 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sherif El-Gebaly, head of the Chemical Industries Chamber, told AFP granular urea has risen to $700–$750 per tonne, up from about $400 before the war.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

It estimates it is adding an average of nine Canadian cents to the production of a barrel of Canadian oil, and that would increase to 50 Canadian cents at C$130 a tonne.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

The hangup was when a tax of 130 Canadian dollars a tonne, or the equivalent of about $95, would kick in.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Brown bears -- which can weigh up to half a tonne and outrun a human -- are found only in the main northern island of Hokkaido.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

Weighing up to a tonne, the Erumpent may be mistaken for a rhinoceros at a distance.

From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling

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