mileaminute

Mileaminute is a nonstandard unit of speed describing the distance of one mile traveled in one minute. By definition, 1 mileaminute equals 1 mile per minute, which is equivalent to 60 miles per hour (about 97 kilometers per hour). The term is informal and is not used in scientific or engineering contexts, but it appears in journalism, popular science, and casual discussions to convey rapid motion in familiar terms.

Etymology and usage: The word combines mile and minute and is sometimes written as mile-a-minute in older prose. It has no official symbol or formal standard beyond its basic equivalence to 1 mi/min. Mileaminute is typically employed to give readers a sense of pace without invoking more technical units, especially when describing travel speed or athletic motion in a narrative.

Limitations: As a nonstandard unit, mileaminute can be ambiguous when comparing speeds across contexts or regions. While the implied magnitude is clear, it is not precise enough for technical calculations. It is best used for rough estimates or descriptive purposes rather than measurements that require precision.

Examples: At a rate of 1 mileaminute, a 120-mile journey would take about 2 hours, and a 60-mile route would take roughly 1 hour. In media and casual writing, calling a vehicle or athlete “moving at mileaminute” communicates brisk speed without specialized vocabulary.

See also: Miles per hour, Speed, Travel time, Units of measurement.