ENGLISH
REFERENCE

billion

n.
US //ˈbɪɫjən// UK //bˈɪliən// bil·lion
  1. 1 a huge amount (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    a very large, unspecified number of things.

    an indefinitely large quantity used for hyperbolic effect.

    Example

    I've told you a billion times to close the door when you leave.

    Example

    There are a billion different ways to solve this problem, so don't feel restricted by the traditional methods.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural form 'billions of' when referring to a general large quantity.
Origin

From French billion, equivalent to bi- (“two”) + -illion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Last updated June 19, 2026