lbs

2 synonyms for lbs, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The abbreviation for pounds, the unit of weight equal to about 0.454 kilograms. It is written after the number, as in 150 lbs.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

pounds

How to use lbs

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

lose 10 lbs weighs 5 lbs lbs per square inch gained a few lbs

Standard in the United States and still widely used in the UK for body weight. Style guides usually prefer lb for both singular and plural, but lbs is universal in everyday writing.

Etymology

From libra, the Roman unit of weight and the word for a balance or pair of scales. The s was added in English to mark the plural, which is why the abbreviation has no letters in common with pound.

Full origin of lbs →

Frequently asked questions

Why is pound abbreviated as lbs when there is no L in the word?

The abbreviation comes from the Latin libra, the Roman unit of weight, not from the English word pound. English kept the Latin abbreviation and added an s for the plural.

What is the difference between lb and lbs?

They mean the same unit. Strictly, lb is the correct symbol for both one pound and many pounds, but lbs has become the normal plural in everyday writing and is understood everywhere.

How many kg is 1 lb?

One pound is 0.45359237 kilograms, usually rounded to 0.45 kg. To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2.

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