What does milligramme mean?
A milligramme is a unit of mass in the metric system, equivalent to one-thousandth of a gram. It is commonly used in medicine to express medication dosages, as well as in scientific and technical applications. The term is often used in British English, while American English tends to use 'milligram' instead. Milligrammes are a convenient unit for measuring small quantities of substances, and are widely used in fields such as chemistry, biology, and pharmacology. Understanding milligrammes is essential for accurate measurement and calculation in these fields.
nounA unit of mass in the metric system, equal to one-thousandth of a gram.
- A unit of mass
- A measure of medication dosage
"The medication dosage was specified as 5 milligrammes per kilogram of body weight."
"The scientist measured out 10 milligrammes of the substance."
"The doctor prescribed 2 milligrammes of the medication per day."
The plural form is used when referring to multiple units of mass.
"The medication label listed 10 milligrammes per dose."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of milligramme
The word 'milligramme' originates from the French language, where it is spelled 'milligramme'. It is a combination of 'milli-', meaning one-thousandth, and 'gramme', a unit of mass. The term has been adopted into various languages, including English, and is used in both British and American English, although with slightly different spellings and usage preferences.
How milligramme is actually used
In British English, 'milligramme' is often used, while in American English, 'milligram' is more commonly used.