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

The term, once confined to technical science papers, has gripped Silicon Valley, steered trillions of dollars in investment and fanned fears of human displacement, or worse. — George Musser, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026

And things just got more complicated with the 10-year Treasury yield hitting a level not seen since 2007, oil prices holding above the triple-digit levels, and an AI sell-off wiping trillions of dollars from some of Wall Street's AI darlings. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Congo’s government struggles to exert control over the east of the country, where more than 100 armed groups are vying for control of trillions of dollars in mineral wealth that’s critical for much of the world’s technology. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Construction on data centers is propping up the economy and sucking up trillions in investments. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1745, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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