What does "hertz" mean?
In the International System of Units, the derived unit of frequency; one (period or cycle of any periodic event) per second.
Hertz
/hɝts/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: In the International System of Units, the derived unit of frequency; one (period or cycle of any periodic event) per second.
- Grammar: hertz is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: audio frequency, cps, cycle, cycle per second.
- Useful contrasts: given name, megacycles, zero frequency.
- Usage evidence: Hertz and Avis are head to head competitors in the car rental business.
How to use "hertz"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hertz" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "hertz" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "hertz" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "hertz" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "hertz" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "audio frequency" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "hertz", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 In the International System of Units, the derived unit of frequency; one (period or cycle of any periodic event) per second.
"Each turbogenerator consisted of a steam turbine, powered by 900 psi of superheated steam, that was coupled by a set of reduction gears to a General Electric marine alternating-current generator operating at 1,800 rpm. Each generator had a capacity of 2,000 kilowatts of three-phase power at 450 volts and 60 hertz. The main 450-volt switchboard was energized by the two turbogenerators. The emergency switchboard, in the emergency generator room, was fed from the main switchboard through an electrical tie."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of hertz (“Hz”). alt-of, uncountable
- 3 the unit of frequency; one hertz has a periodic interval of one second (named for Heinrich Rudolph Hertz) wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from German.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Hertz and Avis are head to head competitors in the car rental business."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hertz"?
Common synonyms include: audio frequency, cps, cycle, cycle per second, cycles per second, cycles/second.
How do you use "hertz" in a sentence?
Hertz and Avis are head to head competitors in the car rental business.
How do you pronounce "hertz"?
Pronounced /hɝts/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Named after German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (1857–1894).
Etymology 2
From German Hertz.