Definition

A unit of power that is equal to one billion watts, commonly used to measure large amounts of electrical power.

Example

The new power plant is expected to generate over five gigawatts of electricity.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a gigawatt?

Yeah, it's a unit of power, right?

Exactly! It's equal to one billion watts.

That's pretty powerful; I didn't realize it was that much!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Gigawatt is formed from "giga-" (from Greek "gigas", meaning giant) and "watt" (named after James Watt, a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer). The term gigawatt refers to a unit of power equal to one billion watts, indicating a very large amount of power.

Memory Tip

Think of 'giga-' meaning giant, which helps you remember that a gigawatt is a giant amount of power, specifically one billion watts.

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