million

noun

mil·​lion ˈmi(l)-yən 

plural millions or million

1

: a number equal to 1,000 times 1,000 see Table of Numbers

2

: a very large number

millions of cars on the road

3

: the mass of common people

—used with the

million adjective

millionfold

ˈmi(l)-yən-ˌfōld 

adverb or adjective

millionth

ˈmi(l)-yən(t)th 

adjective or noun

Synonyms of million

• people
• populace
• public
• crowd
• mass

Examples of million in a Sentence

intellectuals sneered that television was a medium clearly aimed at the millions

Recent Examples on the Web

Sedaka's songs sold millions worldwide and have been covered by a range of performers, from Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra to The 5th Dimension and Nickelback. —Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026

Clubs invest millions in their academies and train seven days a week, but give their talented players little to no playing time. —Philipp Lahm, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026

Unlike the last time the US and Israel struck Iran, in June, these strikes began in daylight early Saturday morning – the first day of the week in Iran – as millions went to work or school. —Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026

If Powell really drops below the point of producing power in the next few years, releasing water only through the bypass tubes could complicate not just maintaining a healthy river for Grand Canyon but delivering enough water to Lake Mead and the millions of users downstream. —Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 28 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English milioun, from Middle French milion, from Old Italian milione, augmentative of mille thousand, from Latin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing million

• look/feel like a million dollars/bucks
• never/not in a thousand/million/billion years
• one in a million
• thanks a bunch/lot/million
• thanks a million

Rhymes for million

• billion
• pillion
• trillion
• castilian
• civilian
• cotillion
• pavilion
• postilion
• quadrillion
• reptilian
• vermilion
• vermillion

Kids Definition

million

noun

mil·​lion ˈmil-yən 

plural millions or million

1

: a number equal to 1,000 times 1,000 see number

2

: a very great number

millions of mosquitoes

million adjective

millionth

-yən(t)th 

adjective or noun