billion

[ bil-yuhn ]

noun

, plural bil·lions, (as after a numeral) bil·lion.

1. a cardinal number represented in the U.S. by 1 followed by 9 zeros, and in Great Britain by 1 followed by 12 zeros.
2. a very large number:

   I've told you so billions of times.

adjective

1. equal in number to a billion.

billion

/ ˈbɪljən /

noun

1. one thousand million: it is written as 1 000 000 000 or 10 ⁹
2. (formerly, in Britain) one million million: it is written as 1 000 000 000 000 or 10 ¹²
3. often plural any exceptionally large number

determiner

1. preceded by a or a cardinal number
   1. amounting to a billion

      it seems like a billion years ago

   2. ( as pronoun )

      we have a billion here

Derived Forms

• ˈbillionth, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• billionth adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of billion¹

1680–90; < French, equivalent to b ( i )- bi- ¹ + -illion, as in million

Word History and Origins

Origin of billion¹

C17: from French, from bi- ¹+ -llion as in million

Example Sentences

The firm misappropriated over $11 billion of funds that belonged to customers, investors and lenders, The Associated Press reported.

From Salon

In the past he has said it would cost taxpayers billions of pounds and take years.

From BBC

Until today, the scientists analysed more than 95 million GPS data points and 13 billion ACC records.

From Science Daily

That wouldn’t make much of a dent in the annual cost of Medicaid’s coverage of its 72 million beneficiaries, which came to about $853 billion last year.

From Los Angeles Times

Social media and messaging platforms could face significant fines potentially measured in the billions if they do not comply with the OSA.

From BBC