Millikilowatt

Millikilowatt is a rarely used unit of power that combines the SI prefixes milli- (10^-3) and kilo- (10^3) with the watt. In practice, the two prefixes cancel, so 1 millikilowatt equals 1 watt (1 mkkW = 1 W).

Because SI prefixes are intended to modify a base unit, combining multiple prefixes on a single unit is unusual and generally discouraged, as it can lead to confusion. If precise power levels are needed, it is clearer to express the quantity directly in watts or in kilowatts or milliwatts, rather than in millikilowatts.

In terms of context, watts measure electrical or mechanical power. Household devices are typically described in watts or kilowatts; examples: a typical LED lamp 5–10 W, a microwave oven around 1000 W, a hair dryer 1200–1800 W. In energy calculations, one would multiply power by time to obtain energy (watt-hours or kilowatt-hours).

Historical notes: The term millikilowatt is scarcely encountered, and modern technical writing generally avoids it in favor of watts, kilowatts, or occasionally megawatts for large-scale power. Overall, millikilowatt remains a curiosity rather than a practical or standard unit in contemporary usage.