centillion

American  

[sen-til-yuhn] / sɛnˈtɪl yən /

noun

centillions plural

1. a cardinal number represented in the U.S. by 1 followed by 303 zeros, and in Great Britain by 1 followed by 600 zeros.

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adjective

1. amounting to one centillion in number.

centillion British  

/ sɛnˈtɪljən /

noun

1. (in Britain and Germany) the number represented as one followed by 600 zeros (10 ⁶⁰⁰ )

2. (in the US, Canada, and France) the number represented as one followed by 303 zeros (10 ³⁰³ )

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Other Word Forms

• centillionth
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of centillion

1850–55; < Latin cent ( um ) 100 + -illion (as in million, billion, etc.)

Example Sentences

In physics, one chance in a centillion is considered an impossibility because there are fewer than a centillion seconds before the end of the universe.

From Time Magazine Archive