English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj Uncommon

Fahrenheit

FA-ruhn-hyt

Fahrenheit (adj) means relating to the temperature scale where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. Example: “It was 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside.”

adj
1
Relating to the temperature scale where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees.
"It was 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside."
"The recipe calls for an oven temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit."

How to use Fahrenheit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe temperature scale used mainly in the US, as opposed to Celsius used almost everywhere else.

UK vs US

The US still uses Fahrenheit for everyday temperatures; the UK and most of the world use Celsius.

Easily confused with
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Fahrenheit” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

It was 90 degrees _____ outside.

Etymology

Named after the Prussian scientist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, who devised the scale in the early 18th century.

Origin: Russian · First attested 1700

Class of 1700 Fahrenheit joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →

Rhymes for Fahrenheit

See all rhymes for Fahrenheit →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Fahrenheit” mean?

The word “Fahrenheit” means relating to the temperature scale where water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. In plain terms, the temperature scale used mainly in the US, as opposed to Celsius used almost everywhere else.

How do you pronounce “Fahrenheit”?

“Fahrenheit” is pronounced FA-ruhn-hyt (/ˈfæɹənhaɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “Fahrenheit” in a sentence?

Here is “Fahrenheit” used in a sentence: “It was 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside.”

What part of speech is “Fahrenheit”?

“Fahrenheit” is an adjective.

Where does the word “Fahrenheit” come from?

The word “Fahrenheit” dates back to around 1700 and comes from Russian. Named after the Prussian scientist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, who devised the scale in the early 18th century.

Is “Fahrenheit” a common word?

“Fahrenheit” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial