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

The situation should remind us of dozens of economic bubbles from the past, ranging from 17th Century Dutch tulips to credit default swaps in 2008. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025

The docket inside the Indianapolis Immigration Court displayed dozens of cases scheduled hours after the governement shutdown, but the halls and courtrooms of the federal building were relatively empty. —Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025

With 17 receptions through four games, Fannin joins Warren as the only rookie tight ends with more than a dozen catches. —Dane Brugler, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

Across Louisville, The Courier Journal will price one dozen Grade A large eggs in the store brand at three grocery stores using the stores' apps every Wednesday morning. —Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 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