absolute zero

US/ˈæb.səˌlut ˈzi.ɹoʊ/US/ˌæb.səˈljut ˈzi.ɹoʊ/

noun

The coldest possible temperature, equivalent to zero on the Kelvin scale, or approximately −273.15 °C, −459.67 °F; a total absence of heat; the temperature at which the motion of all molecules would cease.

First used First attested in the early 19ᵗʰ century.
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Meanings

nounabsolute zero (plural absolute zeros)

plural absolute zeros

  1. natural sciencesThe coldest possible temperature, equivalent to zero on the Kelvin scale, or approximately −273.15 °C, −459.67 °F; a total absence of heat; the temperature at which the motion of all molecules would cease.First known use First attested in the early 19ᵗʰ century.
  2. derogatoryslangA person or thing of absolutely no consequence.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
blatherskitecarrionchopped liverciphercrumbdoinkdouchebagfritlaggeekgood-for-naughtgood-for-nothinggooeygremlinloserminnownobodyno-goodnonentitynothingburgernowmunpelfpicayunepunkpunyrinky-dinksmidgentwerpwarbzerozilchzobzod

Translations

Afrikaans absolute nulpunt
  • absolute nulpuntcoldest possible temperature
Arabic صِفْر مُطَلِّق, دَرَجَة الصُّغَر الْمُطْلَق
  • صِفْر مُطَلِّق (ṣifr muṭalliq)coldest possible temperature
  • دَرَجَة الصُّغَر الْمُطْلَقcoldest possible temperature
Basque zero absolutu
  • zero absolutucoldest possible temperature
Bulgarian абсолю́тна ну́ла
  • абсолю́тна ну́ла (absoljútna núla)coldest possible temperature
Catalan zero absolut
  • zero absolutcoldest possible temperature
Chinese Cantonese 絕對零度 /绝对零度
  • 絕對零度 /绝对零度 (jyut⁶ deoi³ ling⁴ dou⁶)coldest possible temperature
Chinese Mandarin 絕對零度 /绝对零度
  • 絕對零度 /绝对零度 (juéduì língdù)coldest possible temperature
Czech absolutní nula
  • absolutní nulacoldest possible temperature
Danish absolut nulpunkt
  • absolut nulpunktcoldest possible temperature
Dutch absoluut nulpunt
  • absoluut nulpuntcoldest possible temperature
Esperanto absoluta nulo
  • absoluta nulocoldest possible temperature
Estonian absoluutne nulltemperatuur, absoluutne nullpunkt
  • absoluutne nulltemperatuurcoldest possible temperature
  • absoluutne nullpunktcoldest possible temperature
  • absoluutne nullcoldest possible temperature
Finnish absoluuttinen nollapiste, täysi nolla
  • absoluuttinen nollapistecoldest possible temperature
  • täysi nollaperson
French zéro absolu
  • zéro absolucoldest possible temperature
German absoluter Nullpunkt
  • absoluter Nullpunktcoldest possible temperature
Greek απόλυτο μηδέν
  • απόλυτο μηδέν (apólyto midén)coldest possible temperature
Hebrew אפס מוחלט
  • אפס מוחלט (efes muhlat)coldest possible temperature
Hindi परम शून्य
  • परम शून्य (param śūnya)coldest possible temperature
Hungarian abszolút nulla fok
  • abszolút nulla fokcoldest possible temperature
Icelandic alkul
  • alkulcoldest possible temperature
Indonesian nol mutlak
  • nol mutlakcoldest possible temperature
Irish dearbhnialas
  • dearbhnialascoldest possible temperature
Italian zero assoluto
  • zero assolutocoldest possible temperature
Japanese 絶対零度
  • 絶対零度 (zettai reido)coldest possible temperature
Korean 절대 영도
  • 절대 영도 (jeoldae yeongdo)coldest possible temperature
Latvian absolūtā nulle
  • absolūtā nullecoldest possible temperature
Lithuanian absoliutusis nulis
  • absoliutusis nuliscoldest possible temperature
Malay sifar mutlak, kosong mutlak
  • sifar mutlakcoldest possible temperature
  • kosong mutlakcoldest possible temperature
Norwegian Bokmål absolutt nullpunkt
  • absolutt nullpunktcoldest possible temperature
Persian صفر مطلق
  • صفر مطلق (sefr-e motlaq)coldest possible temperature
Polish zero bezwzględne, zero absolutne
  • zero bezwzględnecoldest possible temperature
  • zero absolutnecoldest possible temperature
Portuguese zero absoluto
  • zero absolutocoldest possible temperature
Romanian zero absolut
  • zero absolutcoldest possible temperature
Russian абсолю́тный нуль
  • абсолю́тный нуль (absoljútnyj nulʹ)coldest possible temperature
Slovak absolútna nula
  • absolútna nulacoldest possible temperature
Spanish cero absoluto, cero a la izquierda
  • cero absolutocoldest possible temperature
  • cero a la izquierdaperson
Swedish absoluta nollpunkten
  • absoluta nollpunktencoldest possible temperature
Tagalog wagas na awan
  • wagas na awancoldest possible temperature
Turkish mutlak sıfır
  • mutlak sıfırcoldest possible temperature
Ukrainian абсолю́тний нуль
  • абсолю́тний нуль (absoljútnyj nulʹ)coldest possible temperature
Urdu مطلق صفر
  • مطلق صفرcoldest possible temperature
Vietnamese nhiệt độ không tuyệt đối, độ không tuyệt đối
  • nhiệt độ không tuyệt đốicoldest possible temperature
  • độ không tuyệt đốicoldest possible temperature
  • không độ tuyệt đốicoldest possible temperature
  • 0 tuyệt đốicoldest possible temperature
Welsh sero absoliwt
  • sero absoliwtcoldest possible temperature
Cite this entry
APA

absolute zero. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/absolute%20zero

MLA

“absolute zero.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/absolute%20zero. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “absolute zero,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/absolute%20zero.

Source: absolute zero on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.