Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Système International d'Unités

Système International d'Unités

4.1
An international metric system of measurement used in science and engineering, with units like the metre and kilogram
  • noun
  • /sɪstɛm ˌɪntəˈnæʃənəl dʌnɪts/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Sistema Internacional de Unidades
  • The Système International d'Unités is the standard for scientific measurements worldwide.

Examples

  • Researchers must express all results in terms of the Système International d'Unités for publication in major journals.

  • Many countries adopt the Système International d'Unités for consistency.

  • The transition to the Système International d'Unités was gradual but is now nearly universal in science.

  • The Système International d'Unités is essential for scientific research.

  • Researchers must express all results in terms of the Système International d'Unités for publication in major journals.

  • The Système International d'Unités is the standard for scientific measurements worldwide.

  • The transition to the Système International d'Unités was gradual but is now nearly universal in science.

Synonyms

SI
vsSystème International d'Unités
  • Specialized
9 3.7

A worldwide system for measurements using units like the meter, kilogram, and second

is the international standard employed in scientific and engineering practice
metric system
vsSystème International d'Unités
8 2.6

A system of measurement using meters, kilograms, and seconds

is the modern international system including additional fundamental units
International System
vsSystème International d'Unités
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A standard set of units like metre and kilogram that people use worldwide to measure

is the specific internationally accepted framework for those units
International System of Units
vsSystème International d'Unités
  • Specialized
3.5

A modern system of measurement used worldwide that defines units like the meter and kilogram

is the internationally accepted system used in science and engineering
SI system
vsSystème International d'Unités
  • Specialized
3.4

A standard metric system for measuring things used worldwide in science and industry

is the global reference system for measurements in technical fields
Système International
vsSystème International d'Unités
  • Specialized
4.1

An international system of units used in science like the meter and kilogram

is officially accepted measurement system used across science and engineering

Surface Forms

système international d'unités singular
systèmes internationaux d'unités plural

Morphology

Système + international + d'Unités

The phrase is a compositional named entity: 'système' (system) + 'international' (international) + 'unités' (units) directly yield 'international system of units.' These components are cognates across many languages (e.g., Spanish, French, Portuguese) and the concept is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings would readily infer the MWE's meaning despite it being a proper name in French.

Etymology

Système International d'Unités comes from French and names its parts: Système, International, and Unités. It was created so scientists and countries would use one set of measurement units, so everyone 'measures' the same way.