English Reference
noun · adjective

MIL

n. · adj.
US /ˈmɪɫ/ UK /mˈɪl/ mil UK spelling mils

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    n.a short way of saying or writing 'million', often used when talking about money.

    n.a clipping of 'million', frequently employed in financial contexts or casual conversation regarding large sums.

    Simple

    The house sold for over two mil last week.

    In context

    The startup secured another five mil in seed funding, allowing them to expand their engineering team significantly before the next quarter.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    n.Stands for Mother-In-Law.

    n.Abbreviation for Mother-In-Law. Often used in digital communication or informal writing to refer to the mother of one's spouse.

    Simple

    My MIL is coming over for dinner this Sunday.

    In context

    Navigating the relationship with your MIL can be challenging during the first few years of marriage, especially regarding holiday traditions.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    n.a short way of saying 'millilitre', a small unit of liquid.

    n.a clipping of 'millilitre', used primarily in informal speech or quick notes.

    Simple

    Add about 500 mil of water to the mixture.

    In context

    The recipe calls for 250 mil of heavy cream, but you can substitute whole milk if you prefer a lighter texture.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Technical Technical

    n.a very small unit of measurement used to describe how thick something is, like plastic or wire.

    n.a unit of length equal to one-thousandth of an inch, typically used to specify the thickness of materials like foils or coatings.

    Simple

    The plastic bags are 3 mil thick to prevent them from tearing.

    In context

    The specifications require a 5 mil coating of epoxy to ensure the surface remains resistant to industrial chemicals.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced InformalTechnical

    adj.a short way of saying 'military'.

    adj.a clipping of 'military', used as an attributive modifier in informal or technical contexts.

    Simple

    He was wearing mil-spec boots designed for hiking.

    In context

    The hardware was built to mil-spec standards, ensuring it could withstand extreme temperatures and high-impact environments.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated