Meaning & use
barometric
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Connected with a barometer or with the pressure of the air, especially as used to forecast weather or measure height.
Grammar: Almost always before a noun: barometric pressure.
Patterns
- barometric pressure
- a barometric reading
Barometric pressure fell sharply before the storm arrived.
The pilot checked the barometric altimeter before takeoff.
Some people say changes in barometric pressure make their joints ache.
Common combinations
- barometric pressure
- Falling barometric pressure often signals rain.
- barometric reading
- The barometric reading rose overnight.
- barometric altimeter
- A barometric altimeter estimates height from air pressure.
- barometric change
- A sudden barometric change can cause headaches.
- barometric trend
- The forecaster studied the barometric trend over three days.
Synonyms and how they differ
- atmospheric
- Atmospheric is broader and covers anything about the air, while barometric refers specifically to pressure measured by a barometer.
- meteorological
- Meteorological concerns weather as a whole, whereas barometric is limited to air pressure.
Word family
Commonly confused: barometric or barometer?
barometric vs barometer
A barometer is the instrument itself, while barometric is the adjective describing what relates to it.
Practice
Which phrase is the most common use of barometric?
Choose one answer.
Barometric describes air pressure and appears most often in barometric pressure. Temperature is measured by a thermometer, so that option fails.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “barometric”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.