order of magnitude

noun phrase

: a range of magnitude extending from some value to ten times that value

—often used figuratively

The two problems are not of the same order of magnitude. [=are not equally important]

Examples of order of magnitude in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The magnitude of the smaller shocks, which normally start about an order of magnitude below the main earthquake, tends to fall off over a period of time from weeks to even decades. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 25 Nov. 2025

Properties she’s sold have dwarfed the condo in price by an order of magnitude — banker and philanthropist Adrienne Arsht’s former estate went for $107 million, and a compound on Miami Beach fetched $122 million last year, a county record. —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 21 Nov. 2025

On the other hand, last year's iOS 18 was installed on 88% of iPhones, making iOS adoption an order of magnitude greater than that of Android. —PC Magazine, 21 Nov. 2025

Getting provisions across land into Ukraine has proved challenging; delivering even basic necessities over water to Taiwan amid a conflict with China would be an order of magnitude more difficult. —Zack Cooper, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for order of magnitude

• verisimilitude
• accrued
• allude
• collude
• conclude
• construed
• debuted
• delude
• elude
• endued
• ensued
• eschewed