sextillion

American  

[seks-til-yuhn] / sɛksˈtɪl yən /

noun

plural

sextillions,

plural

sextillion

1. a cardinal number represented in the U.S. by 1 followed by 21 zeros, and in Great Britain by 1 followed by 36 zeros.

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adjective

1. amounting to one sextillion in number.

sextillion British  

/ sɛksˈtɪljən /

noun

1. (in Britain, France, and Germany) the number represented as one followed by 36 zeros (10 ³⁶ )

2. (in the US and Canada) the number represented as one followed by 21 zeros (10 ²¹ )

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Other Word Forms

• sextillionth adjective

Etymology

Origin of sextillion

1680–90; < French < Latin sext ( us ) sixth + -illion, as in million

Example Sentences

Put together, the oceans have taken in a whopping 228 sextillion Joules' worth of heat, the scientists concluded.

From Fox News

About ten sextillion molecules of atmosphere are now squeezing their way through the intricate tree of bronchi and bronchioles forming your lungs.

From Scientific American

Your lungs will inhale and exhale about 300 sextillion oxygen molecules.

From New York Times

Bacteria are everywhere: in our bodies, in the air, in the soil, coating every surface in their sextillions.

From The Guardian

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.

From Washington Times