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

Alongside dozens of producers, beverage directors, buyers, and supporters, ABV became a destination and community. —Osayi Endolyn, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2025

Measles outbreaks continue to cause dozens of cases each week in the US, and the CDC has maintained weekly data reporting accordingly. —Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025

The father and son developed an ice cream chain in the 50s called Peter Pan Ice Cream, which grew to dozens of locations and was named after a park in Emporia. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025

The idea for the film dates back a dozen or so years, when screenwriter Robert Kaplow originally brought the concept to Linklater. —Kyle McGovern, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 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