million

noun

mil·​lion ˈmi(l)-yən How to pronounce million (audio)
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 adverb or adjective
millionth adjective or noun

Examples of million in a Sentence

intellectuals sneered that television was a medium clearly aimed at the millions
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The open-source project has been used by millions of scientists in more than 190 countries, accelerating research into diseases previously considered intractable. Dave Smith, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025 Brown’s descendants, and their spouses, are responsible for pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the community and spending countless hours serving on local nonprofit boards. Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025 In November, millions of Americans will turn back their clocks, marking the end of daylight saving time in 2025. Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Oct. 2025 The sports books spend hundreds of millions on advertising annually, primarily during games, along with pregame and post-game shows, according to MediaRadar, which tracks and estimates ad spending. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for million

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of million was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Million.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/million. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

million

noun
mil·​lion ˈmil-yən How to pronounce million (audio)
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 adjective or noun

More from Merriam-Webster on million

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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