# trillion

/ˈtɹɪɫjən/ (US) · /tɹˈɪliən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trillion
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the number 1,000,000,000,000

numeral · CEFR B2

the number 1,000,000,000,000, which is a million million.

For teachers: the cardinal number 10 to the power of 12, following the short scale convention now standard in both British and American English.

- The government spent over a trillion dollars on the new infrastructure project last year.
- Economists warned that the national debt had surpassed thirty trillion dollars, sparking intense debate over long-term fiscal sustainability.

Usage: Used as a cardinal number; it remains singular when preceded by a specific number but takes an 's' in the phrase 'trillions of'.

### 2. an incredibly large amount

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a word you use when you want to say there is a huge, uncountable number of something.

For teachers: a hyperbolic term used to denote an unspecified, extremely large quantity.

- I have a trillion things to do before we leave for our holiday tomorrow.
- She felt as though she had a trillion different thoughts racing through her mind as she waited for the interview to begin.

Teaching tip: This is purely hyperbolic; learners should use it only in casual speech to show exaggeration.

### 3. basketball slang

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · American English

a joke in basketball for a player who plays for a few minutes but does nothing else on the stat sheet.

For teachers: a box score entry where a player records minutes played followed by zeros in all other statistical categories, resembling the digit one followed by twelve zeros.

- He played for two minutes but finished with a trillion in the box score.
- The benchwarmer's only contribution to the game was a five-minute trillion, failing to record a single point, rebound, or assist before being subbed out.

## Examples

- The government spent over a trillion dollars on the new infrastructure project.
- Astronomers estimate that there are more than a trillion stars in the Andromeda Galaxy.
- National debt figures often reach into the trillions, making it difficult for the average citizen to grasp the actual scale of the country's financial obligations.

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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.