Meaning & use
avoirdupois
Last updated
A system of weight measurement based on a pound of 16 ounces, traditionally used in English-speaking countries.
See it in a sentence
In the United States, most goods are still weighed using avoirdupois units rather than the metric system.
The old recipe listed ingredients in avoirdupois ounces.
A note on using this word
Comes from an Old French phrase meaning 'goods of weight'; sometimes used informally and humorously to refer to a person's body weight.
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