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

A decision by judges at the Court of Appeal has blown open an ongoing saga into hidden commission payments, with buyers possibly in line for payouts totalling billions of pounds.

From BBC

They’re repositories of billions of articles, software lines and music or art made by humans.

From Los Angeles Times

This year’s box-office leader, “Inside Out 2,” has already brought in $1.7 billion worldwide and at the very least will contend for the animated film trophy.

From Los Angeles Times

"In 2018-19 it was paying £1.6 billion more in wages than the other major European leagues. Ten years previously it was £567m more, so the gap had grown by a billion, which is frankly extraordinary."

From BBC

Last year, the nuts generated nearly $3 billion in the state.

From Salon