noun
Common
Oz
oz
Oz (noun) means Abbreviation for ounce, a small unit of weight. Example: “The recipe calls for 8 oz of flour.”
noun
1
Abbreviation for ounce, a small unit of weight.
"The recipe calls for 8 oz of flour."
"He bought an oz of weed from his usual dealer."
name
1
Informal nickname for Australia.
"She moved to Oz for a working holiday last year."
How to use Oz
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a shortened way of writing "ounce," or an informal nickname for Australia.
When to use it
Both senses are informal; "oz" for ounce is common in recipes and casual measurements, while "Oz" for Australia is colloquial.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Ozs, Ozes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The recipe calls for 8 _____ of flour.
Etymology
The weight abbreviation comes from Italian "onza" (ounce); the Australia nickname is a playful respelling of "Aussie/Australia."
Synonyms
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down under
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “Oz” mean?
The word “Oz” means abbreviation for ounce, a small unit of weight. In plain terms, either a shortened way of writing "ounce," or an informal nickname for Australia.
How do you pronounce “Oz”?
“Oz” is pronounced oz (/ɒz/ in IPA).
How do you use “Oz” in a sentence?
Here is “Oz” used in a sentence: “The recipe calls for 8 oz of flour.”
What part of speech is “Oz”?
Depending on how it is used, “Oz” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “Oz” come from?
The word “Oz” comes from Italian. The weight abbreviation comes from Italian "onza" (ounce); the Australia nickname is a playful respelling of "Aussie/Australia.".
Is “Oz” a common word?
“Oz” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Oz” have?
“Oz” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: abbreviation for ounce, a small unit of weight.
Why is ounce abbreviated oz?
The abbreviation is generally traced to onza, an old Italian form of the word for ounce, which is why it keeps a z that the English word lacks. It has remained the standard short form for the ounce on packaging, in recipes, and in weights.
What is the difference between oz and fl oz?
Oz measures weight: an ounce is one sixteenth of a pound, about 28.35 grams. Fl oz stands for fluid ounce, a measure of liquid volume. A fluid ounce of water weighs roughly one ounce, but for other ingredients weight and volume differ, so recipes treat the two separately.
What is the plural of oz — oz or ozs?
The abbreviation stays the same in the plural: 1 oz, 8 oz. Ozs is nonstandard and best avoided; the full word pluralises normally as ounces.
Why is Australia called Oz?
Oz is a phonetic spelling of Aus, the shortened form of Australia, which is pronounced with a z sound. It is an informal, affectionate nickname, in the same register as Aussie for an Australian person.
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