Mil vs. Mill: What's the Difference?
‘Mil’ and ‘mill’ are terms that sound similar but carry distinct meanings. A ‘mil’ is a unit of measurement that is equal to one-thousandth of an inch and is used in various industries, such as manufacturing and engineering, to measure thickness or length. Conversely, a ‘mill’ typically refers to a factory where raw materials are processed or to a milling machine. Additionally, ‘mill’ can also mean one-tenth of a cent in some financial contexts.
How do you use the word mil in a sentence?
The word mil is most commonly used in industries where precise measurements are crucial. It is employed to specify the thickness of materials such as plastic sheeting, wires, or coatings. When discussing specs and tolerances, especially in production or technical settings, mil is the term of choice due to its preciseness.
Examples of mil in a sentence
- The contractor requested plastic sheeting that was at least 6 mils thick to ensure durability.
- During the inspection, the technician measured the coating and found it to be only 3 mils, which was below the standard.
- In the design specs, the engineer noted that the tolerance was ±1 mil to allow for some variance in production.
How do you use the word mill in a sentence?
You can use ‘mill’ to discuss a building or set of buildings equipped with machinery for processing raw materials into finished or semi-finished products. Mill can also describe an establishment that produces textile products or a device used for grinding. In finance, mill might refer to a currency unit.
Examples of mill in a sentence
- The old paper mill was renovated into a modern art museum, while preserving its industrial charm.
- We brought our wheat to the local mill to be ground into flour for our bakery.
- Historically, town mills were a central hub for farmers to process their crops.
Mil and mill definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation
Mil definition:
A mil is a unit of length that is equal to one-thousandth of an inch or 0.0254 millimeter, used especially in measuring the diameter of wires or the thickness of materials.
Mil parts of speech:
Mil pronunciation:
Mil is pronounced as /mil/, rhyming with 'bill' and 'still'.
Mill definition:
A mill is a building equipped with machinery for grinding grain into flour or for a particular manufacturing process. It can also refer to a machine or apparatus for grinding any solid substance to powder or pulp. In finance, a mill can mean one-thousandth of a dollar, or one-tenth of a cent.
Mill parts of speech:
Mill pronunciation:
Mill is pronounced as /mɪl/, rhyming with 'bill' and 'still' just like 'mil'.
A mil is a unit of length that is equal to one-thousandth of an inch or 0.0254 millimeter, used especially in measuring the diameter of wires or the thickness of materials.
Mil parts of speech:
- As a noun: The thickness of the plastic cover is 10 mils, ensuring it is sturdy enough for the job.
Mil pronunciation:
Mil is pronounced as /mil/, rhyming with 'bill' and 'still'.
Mill definition:
A mill is a building equipped with machinery for grinding grain into flour or for a particular manufacturing process. It can also refer to a machine or apparatus for grinding any solid substance to powder or pulp. In finance, a mill can mean one-thousandth of a dollar, or one-tenth of a cent.
Mill parts of speech:
- As a noun: The wool mill has been family-owned for over a century.
- As a verb: We decided to mill the wheat locally for fresher flour.
Mill pronunciation:
Mill is pronounced as /mɪl/, rhyming with 'bill' and 'still' just like 'mil'.
Mil vs. Mill in a nutshell
The differentiation between mil and mill hinges on context and scale. Mil, a highly specific unit of measurement, is crucial in precision-focused industries for denoting thickness often down to minute scales. On the other hand, mill offers broader meaning, referencing grinding machinery or industrial production facilities, and sometimes a minor subdivision of currency. Understanding the disparity in their applications and contexts is key to using each term appropriately.
Get AI Writing Assistance Wherever You Type
Make sure your vocabulary is on point and every punctuation mark is in the right place, no matter where you’re working. Grammarly works across more than 500,000 websites and apps so you can improve your writing without copying, pasting, or breaking focused.
More Commonly Confused Words
Interest piqued? Pore (not pour) over other commonly confused words to help your writing reach peak (not peek) performance.