Mile
The mile is a unit of length used mainly in the United States, the United Kingdom, and a few other countries, and the common statute mile equals 5,280 feet, or exactly 1,609.344 metres.
The mile is a unit of length used mainly in the United States, the United Kingdom, and a few other countries, and the common statute mile equals 5,280 feet, or exactly 1,609.344 metres. The word also refers to a long distance informally, and in athletics it can mean a race of one mile.
Definition and modern use
A mile is a unit of length commonly used for distances on land, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom. In many other countries, the kilometre is the standard everyday distance unit.
Historical origin
Britannica says the mile originated from the Roman mille passus, or “thousand paces,” which was based on 5,000 Roman feet. Over time, different kinds of miles developed, including the statute mile and the nautical mile.
Conversions
The standard statute mile is exactly 1,609.344 metres after international standardisation in 1959. It is also equal to 5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, or 63,360 inches.
Other meanings
Dictionary sources note that “mile” can be used informally to mean a great distance or a large amount. In sport, it can refer to a race of one mile.
Key facts
- The mile is a traditional unit of distance in the imperial and U.S. customary systems.
- One mile equals 5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, or 1,609.344 metres.
- In everyday English, “mile” can also mean a very large distance.
- The term can also mean a one-mile footrace in athletics.
- The nautical mile is a different unit from the statute mile and is defined separately.
Canada largely uses the metric system, so kilometres are standard in everyday road and distance measurements, though miles may still appear in some contexts, especially older references, cross-border travel, or historical material.[3]
Frequently asked questions
What is a mile?
How long is one mile?
What is the symbol for mile?
Is a nautical mile the same as a mile?
Why is it called a mile?
Does mile have non-literal meanings?
References
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mileSupports: Definition of mile, 5,280 feet, nautical mile sense, informal sense of great distance, race of a mile
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries — https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/mileSupports: Mile as a unit equal to 1,609 metres or 1,760 yards and informal long-distance sense
- Vocabulary.com — https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/mileSupports: Statute mile conversions, nautical mile distinction, informal usage, and international mile standardisation context
- Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mileSupports: Statute mile definition, 5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, and approximate kilometre equivalent
- Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/science/mileSupports: General definition of mile and origin from Roman mille passus
- Britannica Dictionary — https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/mileSupports: Mile as 5,280 feet, informal great distance, and race sense
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MileSupports: 1959 standardisation to exactly 1,609.344 metres and distinction among mile types
- Learn CST — https://learncst.com/mile-definitions/Supports: Statute mile and nautical mile definitions and exact nautical-mile length