Definition

A unit of measurement that equals 1,000 metric tons, often used to describe the weight of large objects or the explosive power of bombs.

Example

The bomb had an explosive yield of 15 kilotons, which is equivalent to 15,000 metric tons of TNT.

Conversation

Did you know that the bomb dropped on Hiroshima had an explosive force of about 15 kiloton?

Yeah, I heard it was devastating; that amount of power is hard to imagine.

It's crazy to think that just one kiloton is equivalent to 1,000 tons of TNT.

Right? It really puts things into perspective about the impact of such events.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Kiloton is formed from "kilo-" (from Greek "chilioi", meaning a thousand) and "ton" (from Old French "tonne", meaning a unit of weight). The word "kiloton" refers to a measure of weight equivalent to one thousand tons.

Memory Tip

Think of 'kilo-' meaning a thousand and 'ton' as a unit of weight — so a kiloton is a thousand tons.

Visually Confused Words