What does troy mean?
A troy is a unit of mass traditionally used for gold, silver, and other precious metals. It is usually encountered in the expressions “troy ounce” and “troy pound.” One troy ounce is approximately 31.1035 grams, while a troy pound contains 12 troy ounces and weighs approximately 373.242 grams. These measurements belong to an older European weight system rather than the avoirdupois system commonly used for general commerce. Gold and silver are commonly quoted by the troy ounce, making the term especially familiar wherever precious metals are traded, refined, or valued. Although it can function as a countable unit in formal or historical contexts, “troy ounce” is the usual modern form. The word is unrelated to the ancient city of Troy, which is always capitalized as a proper noun, and it should not be confused with “tray,” a shallow container.
nounA unit of mass used for precious metals, most often in the phrases “troy ounce” and “troy pound.” A troy ounce is 31.1035 grams, and a troy pound contains 12 troy ounces.
- A unit of mass used for precious metals, especially gold and silver, occurring commonly in the compound terms “troy ounce” and “troy pound.”
"The medal contains exactly one troy ounce of pure gold."
"The bullion is quoted by the troy ounce."
"The medal weighs one troy ounce, or approximately 31.1 grams."
The plural is grammatically possible but rare; modern precious-metal usage generally favors the compound “troy ounce.”
"The samples were weighed in troys."
Gold is priced by the troy ounce, so this medieval European weight still shapes everyday markets around the world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of troy
The term ultimately derives from the name of Troyes in France, where the standard troy pound was used. The system belongs to the older European tradition of precious-metal weights and was retained in English-speaking trade as the troy ounce and troy pound. It is not derived from the ancient city written Troy in English.
How troy is actually used
The term is chiefly associated with precious metals, bullion, coins, jewelry, and historical weights. It is normally written as part of a compound unit rather than used by itself, and it should not be confused with the capitalized place name Troy.
Easily confused with troy
Lowercase “troy” is a unit of mass used for precious metals, while capitalized “Troy” commonly denotes the ancient city in northwestern Anatolia or a place named after it.
A “troy” is a unit of mass, whereas a “tray” is a shallow container used to carry or serve objects.