Degree (temperature)

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For other uses, see Degree.

The term degree is used in several scales of temperature. The symbol ° is usually used, followed by the initial letter(s) of the unit, for example “°C” for degree(s) Celsius.

The most common scales of temperature are:

Celsius (°C)
Kelvin (K), which uses the Celsius scale, adjusted so that 0 kelvin is equal to absolute zero.
Fahrenheit (°F)
Rankine (°R or °Ra), which uses the Fahrenheit scale, adjusted so that 0 rankine is equal to absolute zero.

Other scales of temperature include:

Delisle (°De)
Newton (°N)
Réaumur (°R)
Rømer (°Rø)

The degree Kelvin (°K) is a former name for the SI unit of temperature on the thermodynamic (absolute) temperature scale. Since 1967 it has been known simply as the kelvin, with symbol K. Degree absolute (°A) is obsolete terminology, often referring specifically to the kelvin but sometimes the degree Rankine as well.