gross
1 Americanadjective
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without deductions; total, as the amount of sales, salary, profit, etc., before taking deductions for expenses, taxes, or the like (net ).
gross earnings;
gross sales.
-
a gross scoundrel.
-
flagrant and extreme.
gross injustice.
- Synonyms:
- grievous, heinous, outrageous, absolute, downright
-
indelicate, indecent, obscene, or vulgar.
gross remarks.
- Antonyms:
- decent
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lacking in refinement, good manners, education, etc.; unrefined.
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large, big, or bulky.
- Antonyms:
- small, diminutive
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extremely or excessively fat.
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of or concerning only the broadest or most general considerations, aspects, etc.
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Slang. extremely objectionable, offensive, or disgusting.
He wore an outfit that was absolutely gross.
-
gross vegetation;
gross fog;
gross vapors.
noun
plural
gross, grosses-
a group of 12 dozen, or 144, things. gro.
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total income from sales, salary, etc., before any deductions (net ).
-
Obsolete. the main body, bulk, or mass.
verb (used with object)
verb phrase
noun
adjective
-
repellently or excessively fat or bulky
-
with no deductions for expenses, tax, etc; total Compare net 2
gross sales
gross income
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(of personal qualities, tastes, etc) conspicuously coarse or vulgar
-
obviously or exceptionally culpable or wrong; flagrant
gross inefficiency
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lacking in perception, sensitivity, or discrimination
gross judgments
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(esp of vegetation) dense; thick; luxuriant
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obsolete coarse in texture or quality
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rare rude; uneducated; ignorant
interjection
noun
-
a unit of quantity equal to 12 dozen
-
-
the entire amount
-
the great majority
-
verb
Usage
What’s the difference between gross and net? In the context of finance and accounting, gross refers to the total amount before any deductions, while net refers to the final amount that remains after deductions have been made.Of course, gross and net are common words with many other meanings, but these senses of gross and net are used in the context of measuring something (especially money) that has been accumulated—profit, income, earnings, gains, etc.The amount described or referred to as gross is everything that has been taken in, not accounting for things like debts, deductions, and expenses. The amount described or referred to as net is how much you have left after you’ve subtracted anything that doesn’t count toward profit, like debts and expenses.In other words, net is basically gross minus whatever you owe or have spent. For this reason, net is always lower than gross.For example, let’s say you decide to sell cupcakes at a bake sale. You spend $15 on ingredients, and you have to rent a table for $5, which equals $20 in expenses. Good news, you make $50 in cupcake sales. Your gross is $50. Minus the $20 in expenses, your net is $30. You could say you grossed $50 and netted $30.To remember the difference, remember that a net sifts whatever goes into it so that only some remains.Here’s an example of gross and net used correctly in the same sentence.Example: For this quarter, gross income was $2 million, but $1.25 million in expenses and outstanding debts resulted in a net of only $750,000.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between gross and net.
Related Words
See flagrant.
Other Word Forms
- grossly adverb
- grossness noun
- outgross verb (used with object)
- overgross adjective
- overgrossness noun
- ungross adjective
Etymology
Origin of gross
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French gros “large” (as noun, grosse “twelve dozen”), from Late Latin gross(us) “thick, coarse”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
KPMG’s Swonk started the year expecting 2.6% growth in U.S. gross domestic product for 2026, but now estimates 1% growth—assuming the Strait of Hormuz reopens soon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
According to the CalSTRS website, approximately 10% of a California educator’s gross annual compensation is invested into CalSTRS’ pension fund.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
Lamb Weston falls as the company reports higher manufacturing costs and lower gross profit in its latest quarter.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
The increase in sales also bodes well for gross domestic product in the first quarter.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
It’s still there, but now I can feel other things, like annoyance at my brother, who is sticking his gross armpit right in my face.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
