Choose a Measurement
Select a measurement and convert between different units
Single conversion
To convert from Meter (m) to Fathom (fathom), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
Let's convert 5 Meter (m) to Fathom (fathom).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 Meter (m) is equal to Fathom (fathom).
Here are some quick reference conversions from Meter (m) to Fathom (fathom):
| Meters | Fathoms |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 m | fathom |
| 0.001 m | fathom |
| 0.1 m | fathom |
| 1 m | fathom |
| 2 m | fathom |
| 3 m | fathom |
| 4 m | fathom |
| 5 m | fathom |
| 6 m | fathom |
| 7 m | fathom |
| 8 m | fathom |
| 9 m | fathom |
| 10 m | fathom |
| 20 m | fathom |
| 30 m | fathom |
| 40 m | fathom |
| 50 m | fathom |
| 100 m | fathom |
| 1000 m | fathom |
| 10000 m | fathom |
For all Length converters, choose units using the From/To dropdowns above.
The meter (m) is the foundational unit of length in the metric system, a standard of measurement used worldwide.
Simply put, it's used to measure the distance or separation between things.
The plural form is meters.
The original definition of the meter dates back to 1793.
The French Academy of Sciences established it as exactly one ten-millionth (1/10,000,000) of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator (measured along a line passing through Paris).
This ambitious goal was to create a universal unit based on a natural feature of the Earth itself.
Today, the modern definition is far more precise and is based on a universal constant: the speed of light.
Since 1983, the meter has been officially defined as the distance that light travels in a vacuum in exactly 1/299,792,458 of a second.
This modern definition ensures that the meter is incredibly stable and can be accurately reproduced in any lab around the world.
As one of the seven base units in the International System of Units (SI), the meter is essential for calculating many other derived units.
For example, the meter is used to measure:
The meter serves as a fundamental unit in scientific and engineering measurements worldwide.
A fathom is a unit of length in the imperial system of measurement.
It is most famously used for measuring the depth of water.
A fathom is equal to exactly 6 feet (or 1.8288 meters). The plural form is fathoms.
The word "fathom" originates from the Old English word "fæthm," which means "outstretched arms" or "a pair of embracing arms."
Historically, a fathom was defined as the distance from the middle fingertip of one hand to the middle fingertip of the other when a person's arms are fully extended.
This made it a convenient and readily available unit of measurement for sailors and workers.
The fathom is best known for its use in a nautical context to measure water depth.
Mariners would drop a weighted line, called a sounding line, into the water and count the number of "arm spans" it took to reach the bottom.
This measurement was crucial for safe navigation, anchoring, and creating nautical charts to map the seabed.
While modern technology and the metric system have replaced the fathom in official hydrographic surveys, its influence persists.
The term is still used informally in commercial fishing and can be found on many older nautical charts.
Figuratively, the verb "to fathom"—meaning to understand something deeply—is a direct link to the original act of measuring depth and getting to the bottom of things.