septillion

[sep-til-yuhn]

noun

plural

septillions ,

plural

septillion .

1. a cardinal number represented in the U.S. by 1 followed by 24 zeros, and in Great Britain by 1 followed by 42 zeros.

adjective

1. amounting to one septillion in number.

septillion

/ sɛpˈtɪljən /

noun

1. (in Britain, France, and Germany) the number represented as one followed by 42 zeros (10 ⁴² )

2. Brit word: quadrillion. (in the US and Canada) the number represented as one followed by 24 zeros (10 ²⁴ )

Other Word Forms

• septillionth noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of septillion¹

1680–90; < French, equivalent to sept seven + -illion, as in million

Word History and Origins

Origin of septillion¹

C17: from French, from sept seven + -illion, on the model of million

Example Sentences

Our brains are made of more than a septillion molecules, each formed by connected atoms, akin to Lego blocks clicked together.

Read more on Washington Post

All we have to do is find a way to move all 5.972 septillion kilograms of Earth’s mass farther away from our star.

Read more on Scientific American

Meanwhile, the Oxford Dictionary advises that the big number designations which follow quadrillion — quintillion, sextillion, septillion, octillion, nonillion and decillion — are not likely to appear in any financial context too soon.

Read more on Washington Times

By some accounts, there are a septillion stars in the visible universe.

Read more on The New Yorker

No, that term for 1 septillion bytes has nothing to do with the mythical Yeti.

Read more on Forbes