half-dozen

American  

[half-duhz-uhn, hahf-] / ˈhælfˈdʌz ən, ˈhɑf- /

noun

1. one half of a dozen; six.

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adjective

1. considering six as a unit; consisting of six.

half-dozen British  

determiner

1. (preceded by a)

   1. six or a group of six

      a half-dozen roses

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

      at least a half-dozen

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Etymology

Origin of half-dozen

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

half-dozen

Financial adviser No. 1 might host you for a half-dozen steak dinners, while adviser No. 2 may be the one who actually scores a home run.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026

Cody Price "hadn't really thought about" Border Patrol, he says, until he spotted the half-dozen recruiters.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

Blue and brown are among a half-dozen classic M&M’s colors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

There are two belt systems that run concurrently; a half-dozen crew members pick out undesirable materials early on so they don't cause problems in the machinery.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

By dint of entreaties expressed in energetic whispers, I reduced the half-dozen to two: these however, he vowed he would select himself.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë