plural dozens or dozen
1
: a group of 12
roses sold by the dozen
2
: an indefinitely large number
dozens of times
Dozens of people were at the park.
3
the dozens plural in form but singular in construction, African American English
: a ritualized African American word game that consists of exchanging insults usually about the members of an opponent's family
… He also likes to crack jokes. On this side of the diaspora, we would call that playing the dozens. That's also a big part of hip-hop culture.—Tressie McMillan Cottom
In African American culture there is a verbal game of teasing known as "playing the dozens" consisting of two people, typically males, trading insults about each other and their family members.—Leon Williams
compare capping entry 2, joning
dozen
adjective
Cite this Entry
“Dozen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dozen. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.
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