gross

¹

[ grohs ]

adjective

, gross·er, gross·est.

1. without deductions; total, as the amount of sales, salary, profit, etc., before taking deductions for expenses, taxes, or the like ( net ):

   gross earnings;

   gross sales.

2. unqualified; complete; rank:

   a gross scoundrel.

3. flagrant and extreme:

   gross injustice.

   Synonyms: grievous, heinous, outrageous, absolute, downright

4. indelicate, indecent, obscene, or vulgar:

   gross remarks.

   Synonyms: broad, coarse, animal, low

   Antonyms: decent

5. lacking in refinement, good manners, education, etc.; unrefined.
6. large, big, or bulky.

   Synonyms: great, massive

   Antonyms: small, diminutive

7. extremely or excessively fat.
8. of or concerning only the broadest or most general considerations, aspects, etc.
9. Slang. extremely objectionable, offensive, or disgusting:

   He wore an outfit that was absolutely gross.

10. thick; dense:

    gross vegetation;

    gross fog;

    gross vapors.

noun

, plural gross gross·es

1. a group of 12 dozen, or 144, things. : gro.
2. total income from sales, salary, etc., before any deductions ( net ).
3. Obsolete. the main body, bulk, or mass.

verb (used with object)

1. to have, make, or earn as a total before any deductions, as of taxes, expenses, etc.:

   The company grossed over three million dollars last year.

verb phrase

1. Slang.
   1. to disgust or offend, especially by crude language or behavior.
   2. to shock or horrify.

Gross

²

[ grohs ]

noun

1. Chaim [kh, ahym], 1904–1991, U.S. sculptor and graphic artist, born in Austria.

gross

/ ɡrəʊs /

adjective

1. repellently or excessively fat or bulky
2. with no deductions for expenses, tax, etc; total Compare net 2

   gross income

   gross sales

3. (of personal qualities, tastes, etc) conspicuously coarse or vulgar
4. obviously or exceptionally culpable or wrong; flagrant

   gross inefficiency

5. lacking in perception, sensitivity, or discrimination

   gross judgments

6. (esp of vegetation) dense; thick; luxuriant
7. obsolete.
   coarse in texture or quality
8. rare.
   rude; uneducated; ignorant

interjection

1. an exclamation indicating disgust

noun

1. gross a unit of quantity equal to 12 dozen
2. grosses
   1. the entire amount
   2. the great majority

verb

1. to earn as total revenue, before deductions for expenses, tax, etc

gross

1. Exclusive of deductions , prior to taxation , as in gross income . ( Compare net .) Total, aggregate, as in gross domestic product .

Derived Forms

• ˈgrossness, noun
• ˈgrossly, adverb

Other Words From

• gross·ly adverb
• gross·ness noun
• out·gross verb (used with object)
• o·ver·gross adjective
• o·ver·gross·ness noun
• un·gross adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gross¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French gros “large” (as noun, grosse “twelve dozen”), from Late Latin gross(us) “thick, coarse”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gross¹

C14: from Old French gros large, from Late Latin grossus thick

Synonym Study

See flagrant.

Example Sentences

This summer’s “Twisters,” released by Universal Pictures, grossed nearly $371 million worldwide and is the sixth highest grossing film domestically so far this year, according to film performance tracker Box Office Mojo.

From Los Angeles Times

We do not know what 2025 will bring and forecasts of doom could well be punctured by the mere dismal reality of gross incompetence; the future may just be dumb.

From Salon

But the report stated: "The conclusion of the review is that he committed criminal acts of gross abuse."

From BBC

Bend It Like Beckham, the tale of a teenage girl from west London torn between playing football and her traditional Sikh family life - grossed £60m on a production budget of £3.5m.

From BBC

Now, in 2024, saying the stakes are considerably higher than they were eight years ago feels like a gross understatement.

From Salon

Related Words

• abhorrent
• appalling
• awful
• disgusting
• distasteful
• foul
• nasty
• nauseating
• noisome
• noxious
• objectionable
• odious
• offensive
• repellent
• repugnant
• repulsive
• revolting
• sickening
• unpleasant

Gross Vs. Net

What’s the difference between gross and net?

In the context of finance and accounting, gross refers to the total amount before any deductions, while net refers to the final amount that remains after deductions have been made.

Of course, gross and net are common words with many other meanings, but these senses of gross and net are used in the context of measuring something (especially money) that has been accumulated—profit, income, earnings, gains, etc.

The amount described or referred to as gross is everything that has been taken in, not accounting for things like debts, deductions, and expenses. The amount described or referred to as net is how much you have left after you’ve subtracted anything that doesn’t count toward profit, like debts and expenses.

In other words, net is basically gross minus whatever you owe or have spent. For this reason, net is always lower than gross.

For example, let’s say you decide to sell cupcakes at a bake sale. You spend $15 on ingredients, and you have to rent a table for $5, which equals $20 in expenses. Good news, you make $50 in cupcake sales. Your gross is $50. Minus the $20 in expenses, your net is $30. You could say you grossed $50 and netted $30.

To remember the difference, remember that a net sifts whatever goes into it so that only some remains.

Here’s an example of gross and net used correctly in the same sentence.

Example: For this quarter, gross income was $2 million, but $1.25 million in expenses and outstanding debts resulted in a net of only $750,000.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between gross and net.

Quiz yourself on gross vs. net!

Should gross or net be used in the following sentence?

I expect to _____ $1,000, after expenses.