Definition

Noun: A unit of weight used in the United States, equivalent to 2,000 pounds (approximately 907.18 kilograms). It is also commonly called a "short ton."

Usage

This term is used primarily in the United States to measure weight, especially in commerce, industry, and for heavy goods. It distinguishes the 2,000-pound unit from the "long ton" (2,240 pounds) used in the UK and the metric "tonne" (1,000 kilograms).

Examples

• The shipment of steel weighed 500 net tons.
• The truck's maximum load capacity is 20 net tons.
• They purchased a net ton of gravel for the construction project.

Advanced Usage

• The term "net ton" explicitly specifies the 2,000-pound unit to avoid confusion in international trade or technical contexts where other ton units might be used.
• In many U.S. contexts, the word "ton" alone is understood to mean "net ton" or "short ton."

Variants and Related Words

• Short ton: A direct synonym for "net ton."
• Long ton: A British unit of weight equal to 2,240 pounds.
• Tonne (metric ton): A metric unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms (approximately 2,204.62 pounds).
• Gross ton: Can refer to a long ton or, in shipping, to a unit of internal ship volume (100 cubic feet).

Synonyms

• Short ton
• Ton (in a U.S. context)

Related Phrases

• Net weight: The weight of goods alone, without their container or packaging. (Note: This is a related but distinct concept from "net ton," which is a unit of measurement.)
• Deadweight tonnage: A measure of how much weight a ship can carry, often expressed in long tons or metric tons.

Noun

1. a United States unit of weight equivalent to 2000 pounds