Definition

Noun 1. A unit of explosive energy: A measure of the power of an explosive, especially a nuclear weapon, equivalent to the energy released by the detonation of 1,000 tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT). 2. A unit of mass: A weight equal to one thousand tons.

Usage and Examples

• As a measure of explosive yield:
  • The early atomic bombs had a yield of about 20 kilotons.
  • The treaty limits the testing of warheads above 50 kilotons.
• As a measure of mass (less common):
  • The ship can carry several kilotons of cargo.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in comparative contexts to describe the destructive power of nuclear devices. For example, a "10-kiloton bomb" is understood to be ten times more powerful than the conventional reference of 1,000 tons of TNT.
• In technical writing, it is frequently abbreviated as "kt".

Variants and Related Words

• Megaton (n): A unit of explosive energy equal to one million tons of TNT, or one thousand kilotons.
• TNT equivalent (n): A conventional method for quantifying the energy released in an explosion.

Synonyms

• (For explosive yield): TNT equivalent unit.
• (For mass): One thousand tons.

Notes on Meaning

This word has two distinct meanings: 1. The primary and most frequent meaning relates to explosive force, a standard in military and geopolitical contexts. 2. The secondary meaning is a simple unit of weight or mass, used in contexts like shipping or heavy industry. The intended meaning is usually clear from the context (e.g., discussing "bomb yield" vs. "cargo capacity").

Noun

1. a measure of explosive power (of an atomic weapon) equal to that of 1000 tons of TNT
2. one thousand tons