volt

¹ American  

[vohlt] / voʊlt /

noun

Electricity.

1. the standard unit of potential difference and electromotive force in the International System of Units (SI), formally defined to be the difference of electric potential between two points of a conductor carrying a constant current of one ampere, when the power dissipated between these points is equal to one watt. V

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volt ² American  

[vohlt] / voʊlt /

noun

1. Manège.

   1. a circular or turning movement of a horse.

   2. a gait in which a horse going sideways turns around a center, with the head turned outward.

2. Fencing. a sudden movement or leap to avoid a thrust.

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volt ¹ British  

/ vɒlt /

noun

1. a small circle of determined size executed in dressage

2. a leap made in fencing to avoid an opponent's thrust

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volt ² British  

/ vəʊlt /

noun

1.  V.  the derived SI unit of electric potential; the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere, when the power dissipated between these points is 1 watt

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volt Scientific  

/ vōlt /

1. The SI derived unit used to measure electric potential at a given point, usually a point in an electric circuit. A voltage difference of one volt drives one ampere of current through a conductor that has a resistance of one ohm. One joule of work is required to move an electric charge of one coulomb across a potential difference of one volt. One volt is equivalent to one joule per coulomb.

2. See also Ohm's law

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volt Cultural  

1. The unit of electromotive force, the volt measures how much “pressure” there is in an electric circuit. The higher the voltage, the more electrical current (see also current) will flow in the circuit.

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Discover More

Ordinary household outlets are usually rated at 115 volts, car batteries at 12 volts, and flashlight batteries at 1.5 volts.

Etymology

Origin of volt¹

First recorded in 1870–75; named after A. Volta

Origin of volt²

1650–60; < French volte < Italian volta, noun derivative of voltare to turn < Vulgar Latin *volvitare, frequentative of Latin volvere to turn; vault ²

Explanation

A volt is one of the units of electricity, a way to measure the force that makes an electrical current flow. A car battery typically measures between 12 and 14 volts. Measuring electricity is complicated, but you can think of volts as the units of pressure a battery or generator exerts on a current of electricity to get it moving so it can produce power (for the electricity in your house, for example). Voltage is the overall term for this force. Both words come from the name of Alessandro Volta, the scientist who is considered by many to be the inventor of the electric battery.

Example Sentences

No, this is something more foreboding, albeit a bit mystical with its electrical volt shocks that hint at an afterlife rather than a happily ever after.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2025

The chargers are about six times faster than charging with a standard 120 volt wall outlet, but around one-fifth the speed of some faster chargers in the city, he said.

From Seattle Times • May 8, 2024

When the voltage reached a certain threshold, roughly half of a volt, the material would begin to inject electrons through the gate from a source redox material into a channel material.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2024

Level 1 chargers use a regular 110 volt outlet, just like standard home plugs, but take a long time to charge a vehicle battery.

From Reuters • Feb. 10, 2023

His volt meter showed thirteen and a half volts charging, and the Susan Marie ran hard and steady, her spotlight suffused in the fog.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson