trillion

[ tril-yuhn ]

noun

, plural tril·lions, (as after a numeral) tril·lion.

1. a cardinal number represented in the U.S. by 1 followed by 12 zeros, and in Great Britain by 1 followed by 18 zeros.

adjective

1. amounting to one trillion in number.

trillion

/ ˈtrɪljən /

noun

1. the number represented as one followed by twelve zeros (10 ¹²); a million million
2. (formerly, in Britain) the number represented as one followed by eighteen zeros (10 ¹⁸); a million million million
3. often plural an exceptionally large but unspecified number

determiner

1. preceded bya or a numeral
   1. amounting to a trillion

      a trillion stars

   2. ( as pronoun )

      there are three trillion

Derived Forms

• ˈtrillionth, nounadjective

Other Words From

• trillionth noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trillion¹

1680–90; < French, equivalent to tr ( i )- tri- + ( m ) illion million

Word History and Origins

Origin of trillion¹

C17: from French, on the model of million

Example Sentences

A recent Google algorithm topped the charts at over a trillion parameters.

From Singularity Hub 

There is less than one in about a trillion chance that the discrepancy could be a statistical fluke.

From Nautilus

The SBA’s release of the PPP loan data last week has only amplified the scrutiny, with more details coming to light about the program’s application and the beneficiaries of more than half a trillion dollars in taxpayer funds.

From Fortune

Almost a week after Democratic congressional leaders climbed down from their demand for a multi-trillion dollar stimulus package, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continued to tout his own plan, endangering prospects for a compromise.

From Fortune

Obviously, the new revenues would help offset critical relief spending, the price tag for which already stretches into the trillions.

From Fortune

World GDP (including North Pole toyshop gross output) is $84.97 trillion.

From The Daily Beast

There are about 80 million Americans between the ages of 18-34 and next year they are expected to spend $2.45 trillion.

From The Daily Beast

Among other things, the bill appropriates $1.1 trillion in funding—including over $550 billion for the Department of Defense.

From The Daily Beast

In 2012, the top 20 percent made $13.5 trillion in income; the entire bottom 80% made $1 trillion.

From The Daily Beast

Illegal immigrants have already paid about $1 trillion into social security.

From The Daily Beast

Its distance is 64 trillion kilometers (391⁄2 trillion miles).

From Project Gutenberg

Its distance is 69 trillion kilometers (421⁄2 trillion miles).

From Project Gutenberg

The power represented approximately twenty trillion horsepower.

From Project Gutenberg

After long observation, they succeeded in determining its distance as 92 trillion kilometers (57 trillion miles).

From Project Gutenberg

We traverse a few more trillion miles in our rapid course, and it shines out like a fine star of the first magnitude.

From Project Gutenberg