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half-dozen

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

noun

  1. one half of a dozen; six.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of half-dozen

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

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.

BlackSea also said that its boat is designed to work with a range of software and that it has successfully operated with a half-dozen other software stacks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Each Tuesday, he met a half-dozen or so business associates and others for breakfast, usually at the Los Angeles Country Club.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet even after the second referral, the business continued to operate and was cited for 16 additional state violations in more than a half-dozen counties, the majority for which it was not fined.

From Los Angeles Times

Investigators, who also enforce wage and hour laws, are responsible for inspecting the operations of more than a half-dozen industries across California that include construction sites, hotels and car washes.

From Los Angeles Times

More than a half-dozen CAR T-cell therapies have been approved since 2017 for blood cancers, and they can provide complete cures for some patients.

From The Wall Street Journal