# dozen

/ˈdəzən/ (US) · /dˈʌzən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dozen
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a group of twelve

noun · CEFR A2

a group or set of twelve things.

For teachers: a set of twelve items. Often functions as a determiner when followed by a noun.

- She bought a dozen eggs from the market to bake the cake.
- The baker prepared half a dozen loaves of sourdough bread before the first customers arrived at the shop.

Usage: Remains singular when preceded by a specific number (e.g., 'three dozen').

### 2. many

noun · CEFR B1

a large but not exact number of people or things.

For teachers: an indefinite, large number; typically used in the plural to suggest a significant quantity.

- Dozens of people waited in line for the new phone to go on sale.
- Dozens of protesters gathered outside the embassy, demanding a formal response from the ambassador regarding the new trade policy.

Usage: Used in the plural form 'dozens' followed by 'of'.

### 3. the dozens

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang · Informal

a game where two people trade insults to see who is funnier or tougher.

For teachers: a traditional African-American custom of exchanging playful or competitive insults.

- The two friends were just playing the dozens, so don't take the jokes seriously.
- Linguistic scholars have studied the dozens as a sophisticated form of oral wordplay that influenced modern battle rap.

Teaching tip: This is a specific cultural term; learners are unlikely to encounter it outside of specific sociological or musical contexts like hip-hop.

## Examples

- I bought a dozen eggs at the market.
- The baker packed a dozen fresh rolls into a paper bag for the customer.
- While the recipe calls for exactly a dozen oysters, most chefs recommend purchasing a few extra to account for any that might be damaged during shucking.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.