What does kiloliter mean?
A kiloliter is a metric unit of volume equal to 1,000 litres. It is also equal to one cubic metre, making it useful for describing tanks, reservoirs, industrial containers, and substantial quantities of liquid. In the United States, the word is normally spelled kiloliter; British English uses kilolitre, though the international symbol for the unit is L. A kiloliter is often abbreviated as 1 kL, although the symbol L is generally preferred for ordinary written use. The term is especially common in engineering, water management, fuel and fuel-consumption specifications, and descriptions of commercial vehicles. For smaller quantities, litre is the more natural unit: a single kiloliter contains 1,000 litres. The prefix kilo- comes from the Greek word for “thousand,” while litre derives from an older Greek unit of measure, so the name literally identifies a thousand-litre quantity.
nounA metric unit of volume equal to 1,000 litres, or one cubic metre.
- A metric unit of capacity or volume equal to 1,000 litres.
"The new reservoir can hold approximately 50 million kiloliters of water."
"Water consumption at the site is currently measured at 120 kiloliters per day."
"The compact delivery vehicle includes a 15-kiloliter tank beneath its cargo bed."
The standard US plural is kiloliters; the British plural is kilolitres.
"The pipeline can deliver hundreds of kiloliters per hour."
One kiloliter occupies exactly one cubic metre, making it the metric equivalent of a metric ton of water by volume.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kiloliter come from?
Kiloliter is a metric compound formed from the prefix kilo-, meaning “thousand,” and litre. The prefix comes through French from the Greek kiliakos, associated with khilia, “thousand.” Litre entered English from French and ultimately derives from the ancient Greek litra, an old unit of weight or capacity. The metric litre was standardized in France in the late 18th century, after which prefixes such as kilo- were applied systematically to form larger units.
Related word forms
How kiloliter is actually used
Kiloliter is the usual US spelling; British English generally uses kilolitre. The unit is abbreviated L or L. In scientific writing, the symbol kL is also used. The word is less common in everyday speech than litre and is used mainly for large quantities, engineering specifications, and consumption figures.
Easily confused with kiloliter
A liter is one thousandth of a kiloliter.
Kilolitre is the standard British spelling of the US form kiloliter.