dozen
- 01 A2 Elementary
a group or set of twelve things.
a set of twelve items. Often functions as a determiner when followed by a noun.
Simple“She bought a dozen eggs from the market to bake the cake.”
In context“The baker prepared half a dozen loaves of sourdough bread before the first customers arrived at the shop.”
UsageRemains singular when preceded by a specific number (e.g., 'three dozen').
PitfallI bought two dozens eggs. I bought two dozen eggs.When used with a specific number like 'two' or 'three', 'dozen' stays singular.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
a large but not exact number of people or things.
an indefinite, large number; typically used in the plural to suggest a significant quantity.
Simple“Dozens of people waited in line for the new phone to go on sale.”
In context“Dozens of protesters gathered outside the embassy, demanding a formal response from the ambassador regarding the new trade policy.”
UsageUsed in the plural form 'dozens' followed by 'of'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
a game where two people trade insults to see who is funnier or tougher.
a traditional African-American custom of exchanging playful or competitive insults.
Simple“The two friends were just playing the dozens, so don't take the jokes seriously.”
In context“Linguistic scholars have studied the dozens as a sophisticated form of oral wordplay that influenced modern battle rap.”
Teacher's tipThis is a specific cultural term; learners are unlikely to encounter it outside of specific sociological or musical contexts like hip-hop.
Usage dozen people
“This election could go any way in the next dozen weeks up until the late October vote day.”
“The dozens of countries named in the report have yet to publicly respond to its claims.”
From Middle English dozen, dozein, doseyne, from Old French dozaine (“a group of twelve”) (Modern French douzaine), from doze (“twelve”) + -aine (“-ish”), from Latin duodecim (“twelve”) (from duo (“two”) + decem (“ten”)) + -ana (“-ish”).
From a deliberate misspelling of doesn't, originally referring to someone who "dozen sing, dozen rap, dozen do anything."
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.