Amperage
/ˈæm.pər.ɪdʒ/noun
The strength of an electric current, measured in amperes.
Did you know?Amperage comes from the name of André-Marie Ampère, the 19th-century physicist whose work helped define electromagnetism, so this is one of those rare scientific words that literally turns a surname into a unit of force.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
French
ampère
“A unit of electric current named for André-Marie Ampère.”
19th Century
English
ampere
“The adopted unit name for electric current.”
Late 19th Century
English
amperage
“The amount or strength of electric current measured in amperes.”
Modern English
English
amperage
“Electric current strength, especially as measured in amperes.”
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