lbs
Lbs (noun) means the abbreviation for pounds, the unit of weight equal to about 0.454 kilograms. It is written after the number, as in 150 lbs. Example: “The parcel weighs 12 lbs.”
How to Use Lbs
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShort for pounds, the weight unit.
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.
There is no full stop after lbs in British usage; American style sometimes writes lbs. with a point. Never write lb's.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The parcel weighs 12 _____.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Related Words
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.