dozen

noun

doz·​en ˈdə-zᵊn 

plural dozens or dozen

1

: a group of 12

2

: an indefinitely large number

dozens of times

3

the dozens plural in form but singular in construction : a ritualized African American word game that consists of exchanging insults usually about the members of an opponent's family

dozen adjective

dozenth

ˈdə-zᵊn(t)th 

adjective

Synonyms

• ton
• loads
• plenty
• slew
• bunch
• hundred
• lot
• deal
• pile
• chunk
• quantity
• raft

Examples of dozen in a Sentence

dozens of new songs were auditioned and rejected

Recent Examples on the Web

In defense of the July 25 order to close the camp, Merkley had said that Streets to Home Indy wasn't prepared to take on a site as large as Leonard Street, where more than two dozen tents sat as of late July. —Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 15 Aug. 2025

Last week, Toronto Tempo general manager Monica Wright Rogers hosted about two dozen WNBA agents for a meet-and-greet at a local hotel. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 15 Aug. 2025

The list includes more than a dozen states, including large states like California and New York, as well as several major cities including Boston, Denver, New York City, and Philadelphia, all led by Democrats. —Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

According to the latest data, the average cost of a dozen large Grade A eggs is $3.60 nationwide. —Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dozeine, from Anglo-French duzeine, dozeyne, from duze twelve, from Latin duodecim, from duo two + decem ten — more at two, ten

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dozen

• a dime a dozen
• baker's dozen
• daily dozen
• half a dozen
• half dozen
• it's six of one and half a dozen of the other
• it's six of one, half (a) dozen of the other
• several dozen
• talk nineteen to the dozen

Kids Definition

dozen

noun

doz·​en ˈdəz-ᵊn 

plural dozens or dozen

: a group of twelve

dozen adjective

dozenth

-ᵊn(t)th 

adjective

Etymology

Middle English dozeine "dozen," from early French dozeyne (same meaning), derived from Latin duodecim "twelve," from duo "two" and decem "ten" — related to decimal, dime, dual