trillion

noun

tril·​lion ˈtri(l)-yən 

1

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

2

: an indeterminately large number

a trillion mosquitoes out tonight

trillion adjective

trillionth

ˈtri(l)-yən(t)th 

adjective or noun

Examples of trillion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

President Trump’s plan to cut taxes by trillions of dollars could also trim billions in spending from social safety net programs, including food assistance for lower-income people. —David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025

But these models pack just 3 billion parameters — a fraction of the complexity found in the latest releases from OpenAI, Google, or even Apple’s own internal tools, which are rumored to reach into the trillions of parameters. —Jackie Snow, Quartz, 7 June 2025

Musk is correct that deals that keep increasing the deficit by trillions aren’t putting us anywhere near a path to fiscal responsibility. —The Editors, National Review, 6 June 2025

The value of those minerals could total in the trillions, and the Trump Administration wants American companies to access them in a bid to bolster the economy. —Justin Worland, Time, 5 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from tri- + -illion (as in million)

First Known Use

1690, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for trillion

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

Kids Definition

trillion

noun

tril·​lion ˈtril-yən 

1

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

2

: a very large number

a trillion mosquitoes out tonight

trillion adjective

trillionth

-yən(t)th 

adjective

trillionth noun