# Wheaton

/ˈhwitən/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wheaton
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a unit of measurement for how much people talk about or like something on the internet. It is named after actor Wil Wheaton and is used to joke about how popular a topic is.

For teachers: a humorous unit of measurement used to quantify the level of online buzz, mentions, or popularity regarding a specific topic. Named after actor Wil Wheaton, it is typically used in internet subcultures and social media contexts.

## Examples

- That new movie has reached over five million wheatons on social media.
- The marketing team joked that the viral video had achieved a record-breaking number of wheatons within the first hour.
- While traditional metrics focus on raw impressions, some niche communities prefer to measure cultural impact in wheatons to reflect the intensity of fan engagement.

## Usage notes

- Used almost exclusively in informal, internet-based contexts; often used with large numbers to exaggerate popularity.

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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.