What does centimetre mean?
A centimetre is a unit of length in the metric system equal to one hundredth of a metre, or about 0.394 inches. It is widely used around the world for everyday measurements — describing height, clothing sizes, small objects, and short distances — where a metre would be too coarse and a millimetre too fine. The word is spelled "centimetre" in British English and "centimeter" in American English, though both forms denote precisely the same quantity. Abbreviated as cm, the centimetre is part of the International System of Units (SI) and appears frequently on rulers, tape measures, and scientific instruments. Because most of the world uses metric units, the centimetre is among the most familiar and practical measurements in daily life, bridging the gap between the larger metre and smaller millimetre with convenient precision.
nounA metric unit of length equal to one hundredth of a metre, or approximately 0.394 inches. It is used for measuring small distances and dimensions.
- A unit of length in the metric system, one hundredth of a metre.
"The tailor measured the fabric with precision, cutting it to the exact centimetre required for the pattern."
"She grew almost three centimetres over the summer."
"The specimen measured just five centimetres from tip to tail."
Regular plural formed by adding -s. In American English the spelling is centimeters.
"He trimmed the board by three centimetres to make it fit."
There are exactly 2.54 of them in every inch — the one number that quietly bridges two measurement systems.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of centimetre
The word centimetre comes from French centimètre, formed by combining centi-, meaning "hundredth," from Latin centum ("hundred"), with mètre, from Greek metron ("measure"). It was adopted into English in the early nineteenth century alongside the broader metric system introduced after the French Revolution. Related English words drawing on the same Latin root centum include century, percent, and centipede, while cognates such as litre and metre share the Greek metron element.
Related word forms
How centimetre is actually used
Spelled "centimeter" in American English and "centimetre" in British English; both refer to the same unit. The plural is regular (centimetres/centimeters). Commonly abbreviated as cm. In everyday use it is the standard small-scale unit of length in most countries that have adopted the metric system.
Easily confused with centimetre
An inch is an imperial unit of length (2.54 cm), while a centimetre is a metric unit one hundredth of a metre.
A millimetre is one tenth of a centimetre, so it measures even smaller lengths.