kW
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Kilowatt |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Units & Measurements, Geography & Places |
| Also written | KW |
kW has two meanings. It stands for Kilowatt (engineering unit) or Kuwait (country code).
Meanings of kW at a glance
| # | kW stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilowatt | Units & Measurements › Engineering Unit |
| 2 | Kuwait | Geography & Places › Country Code |
1. Kilowatt
Units & Measurements · Engineering Unit Abbreviations
Equal to 1,000 watts, the kilowatt rates engine output in most of the world, electric vehicle motors and chargers, home solar systems, heaters and appliances. An average US home draws about 1.2 kW, and a Level 2 EV charger supplies roughly 7 to 19 kW.
Example: The heat pump has a rated heating capacity of 8 kW.
European and Australian car brochures give engine power in kW, often next to metric horsepower: 100 kW is about 134 hp or 136 PS. Business electricity bills charge per kW of peak demand, separately from energy in kWh. The k is lowercase; KW is a common misspelling.
2. Kuwait (KW)
Geography & Places · Country Code Abbreviations
Kuwait, a Gulf state with Kuwait City as its capital and KWT as its alpha-3 code, issues the Kuwaiti dinar (KWD), the highest-valued currency unit in the world. Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait triggered the Gulf War.
Example: Salaries in KW are paid in dinars, worth more than three US dollars each.
Kuwait holds some of the world's largest oil reserves. The .kw domain is used mainly by local organizations.
Related abbreviations
More engineering unit abbreviations
- ksi – Kilopounds per square inch
- kt – Knot (aviation)
- kV – Kilovolt
- kVA – Kilovolt-ampere
- kWh – Kilowatt-hour
- kWp – Kilowatt-peak
- L/100 km – Liters per 100 kilometers
- lb-ft – Pound-feet
See all 103 engineering unit abbreviations →