# decibels

/ˈdɛsəbəɫz/ (US) · /dˈɛsɪbəlz/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/decibels
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

units that measure how loud a sound is. Higher numbers mean louder sounds you hear.

For teachers: units of measurement for sound intensity on a logarithmic scale, where an increase of about 10 marks a sound perceived as roughly twice as loud.

## Examples

- The music reaches 90 decibels in this club.
- The workers wear ear protection because the machines produce over 85 decibels all day.
- City planners measured traffic noise at 70 decibels near the school, prompting calls for sound barriers to protect children's concentration.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.