Minot (unit)

The Minot is a non-standard unit of time, primarily used within certain internal contexts at Google. It is defined as one millionth of a year, or approximately 525.6 milliseconds.

The name "Minot" is a portmanteau of "micro" and "year," reflecting its derivation as a very small fraction of a year.

While not officially recognized by any standard metrological organization, and rarely used outside of Google's internal infrastructure, the Minot offers a convenient, albeit somewhat whimsical, unit for measuring very short durations when referencing annual-scale operations or performance metrics. Its use allows for expressing timings as fractions of a year without resorting to scientific notation with very small exponents, or converting into more traditional units like milliseconds or microseconds, which can become cumbersome in certain contexts.

It is important to note that the Minot is not a standard unit, and its usage should be avoided in contexts where clarity and universal understanding are paramount. When encountering the term "Minot," it is crucial to understand its specific definition (1/1,000,000 of a year) to avoid misinterpretation.