# tonne

/ˈtən/ (US) · /tˈʌn/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tonne
Updated: 2026-10-20

## Definition

a unit of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms. You use this word when talking about very heavy things like cars, ships, or large amounts of food.

For teachers: a metric unit of mass equivalent to 1,000 kilograms or approximately 2,204.6 pounds. Often referred to as a 'metric ton' in American English to distinguish it from the imperial ton.

## Examples

- The truck can carry one tonne of cargo.
- The factory produces over a tonne of recycled plastic every single day.
- Environmental regulations now require shipping companies to report their carbon emissions per tonne of freight moved across international waters.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The car weighs one ton." but "The car weighs one tonne." — In British English, 'tonne' refers specifically to the metric unit (1,000kg), while 'ton' refers to imperial units.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the plural ('tonnes of') as a hyperbole to mean 'a lot of'.
- American English spells this metric unit 'ton', often as 'metric ton'. See the entry for ton.

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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.