dozen

¹

[duhz-uhn]

noun

plural

dozens ,

plural

dozen .

1. a group of 12.

2. Slang.,  the dozens, a ritualized game typically engaged in by two persons each of whom attempts to outdo the other in insults directed against members of the other's family (usually used in the phraseplay the dozens ).

adjective

1. twelve.

dozen

²

[doh-zuhn]

verb (used with object)

Scot.

1. to stun.

dozen

/ ˈdʌzən /

determiner

1. 1. twelve or a group of twelve

      a dozen eggs

      two dozen oranges

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural )

      give me a dozen

      there are at least a dozen who haven't arrived yet

noun

1. in large quantities

2. See baker's dozen

3. to talk without stopping

Other Word Forms

• dozenth adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dozen¹

1250–1300; Middle English dozeine < Old French do ( u ) zaine, equivalent to do ( u ) ze (< Latin duodecim ) + -aine (< Latin -āna ) -an

Origin of dozen²

1325–75; Middle English (Scots); doze ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of dozen¹

C13: from Old French douzaine, from douze twelve, from Latin duodecim, from duo two + decem ten

Idioms and Phrases

see baker's dozen; by the dozen; daily dozen; dime a dozen; six of one, half dozen of the other.

Example Sentences

Everywhere I looked—a dozen games in progress—I saw birdies zipping on flat lines.

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That pales in comparison to the threatened loss of Nexstar and Sinclair, which own dozens of stations, including in such large markets as Seattle, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

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Since 2021, more than two dozen of the 100 largest U.S. accounting firms have either sold an ownership stake to private-equity investors or been acquired by a firm that has done so.

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Kaniecki said he has treated about a dozen pilots and over 100 flight attendants for brain injuries after exposure to fumes on aircraft over the last 20 years.

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Just a few years ago, before the College Football Playoff expanded to a dozen teams, losing a game like Saturday’s would have put a team’s championship hopes on life support.

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Related Words

• twelve