1 gallon | Definition of gallon

gallon

noun
gal·​lon | \ ˈga-lən How to pronounce gallon (audio) \

Definition of gallon

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to 231 cubic inches or four quarts — see Weights and Measures Table

Examples of gallon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The statewide average is $2.54 per gallon, the price a quarter cheaper than a year ago, AAA said. Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Labor Day gas prices could be the lowest in 3 years," 28 Aug. 2019 Assuming a pump price of $3 per gallon, about 16 cents of the Michigan pump price is sales tax. Kathleen Gray, Detroit Free Press, "Whitmer calls on Republican lawmakers to reveal their plan for fixing Michigan roads," 28 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gallon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of gallon

13th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for gallon

Middle English galun, galoun, galon, a liquid measure, borrowed from Anglo-French galun, galon, jalon, from Old French jal-, base of jaloie "container for liquids, bucket" (going back to Vulgar Latin *gallēta, of uncertain origin) + -on, diminutive or particularizing suffix, going back to Latin -ō, -ōn-, suffix of persons with a prominent feature

Note: Presumed *gallēta (attested as Medieval Latin galeta "wine vessel, liquid measure" in 11th-century texts) has been linked to several classical Greek words for containers, as kálathos "kind of basket, wine cooler," kēlástra "milk pail" (so glossed by Hesychius), though none of these fit formally; on the other hand, kēlḗtēs, kalḗtēs "sufferer from a hernia" (from kḗlē, kálē "tumor, hernia"; see -cele) fits formally but requires a contextual and semantic leap ("one swollen or ruptured" > "container"?).

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More Definitions for gallon

gallon

noun

English Language Learners Definition of gallon

US : a unit of liquid measurement equal to four U.S. quarts or 3.785 liters
British : a unit of liquid measurement equal to four British quarts or 4.546 liters

gallon

noun
gal·​lon | \ ˈga-lən How to pronounce gallon (audio) \

Kids Definition of gallon

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to four quarts (about 3.8 liters)

gallon

noun
gal·​lon | \ ˈgal-ən How to pronounce gallon (audio) \

Medical Definition of gallon

1 : a United States unit of liquid capacity equal to four quarts or 231 cubic inches or 3.785 liters
2 : a British unit of liquid and dry capacity equal to four quarts or 277.42 cubic inches or 4.544 liters

called also imperial gallon

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More from Merriam-Webster on gallon

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with gallon

Spanish Central: Translation of gallon

Nglish: Translation of gallon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of gallon for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gallon

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