trillion

[ tril-yuhn ]

noun

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

1. a cardinal number represented in the U.S. by 1 followed by 12 zeros, and in Great Britain by 1 followed by 18 zeros.

adjective

1. amounting to one trillion in number.

trillion

/ ˈtrɪljən /

noun

1. the number represented as one followed by twelve zeros (10 ¹²); a million million
2. (formerly, in Britain) the number represented as one followed by eighteen zeros (10 ¹⁸); a million million million
3. often plural an exceptionally large but unspecified number

determiner

1. preceded bya or a numeral
   1. amounting to a trillion

      a trillion stars

   2. ( as pronoun )

      there are three trillion

Derived Forms

• ˈtrillionth, nounadjective

Other Words From

• trillionth noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trillion¹

1680–90; < French, equivalent to tr ( i )- tri- + ( m ) illion million

Word History and Origins

Origin of trillion¹

C17: from French, on the model of million

Example Sentences

An ambitious plan to map all 37 trillion cells in the human body is transforming understanding of how our bodies work, scientists report.

From BBC

In 2023, the US government spent more than $1.4 trillion on Medicaid and Medicare combined, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

From BBC

Extending the bill would add an estimated $4 trillion to the national debt over the next ten years, the Congressional Budget Office estimated.

From Salon

Bitcoin is gaining again on Tuesday, extending a volatile post-Election Day rally that has pushed the market value of all cryptocurrencies above $3 trillion.

From New York Times

“In other words, last year we paid out $1.35 trillion in benefits, and most of the dollars for paying those benefits came from people working last year in the economy.”

From Salon