umpteen

adjective

ump·​teen ˈəm(p)-ˌtēn 

ˌəm(p)-ˈtēn

: very many : indefinitely numerous

Stephen King is beloved by fans of the horror genre for his umpteen bestselling books …

—Sam Swantek

Their well-crafted prose simply repeats what umpteen other basic books on wine already say.

—Harvey Steiman

Innumerable GIs were taught how to ask for a hamburger in umpteen different languages.

—Roy Harris

Our umpteen-year mission to explore new worlds and new civilizations.

—Salman Rushdie

Did you know?

There may not be a gazillion ways in English to refer to a large, indefinite number, but there are definitely more than a soupçon. Many of these, such as zillion, bazillion, kazillion, jillion, and bajillion, start with -illion (as in million) and add a satisfying consonant or syllable in front for some extra oomph. The adjective umpteen does the same for -teen, with the oomph provided by the ump in umpty. Umpty, an adjective meaning "such and such" (as in "umpty percent" or "umpty-four") arose, like umpteen, in the latter half of the 1800s. We only occasionally use umpty these days, but you're bound to hear or read umpteen and umpteenth ("latest or last in an indefinitely numerous series") any number of times.

Examples of umpteen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And while its uniquely colorful visual design and world-building differentiate it from umpteen other shooters on the market, its world is hollow and devoid of life — and most tragically, excitement. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025

Ryann Redmond is charming, bold and exuberant as seen-it-all Petunia, who has umpteen children due to the lack of birth control. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025

No one gets this as well as Boz, who shows up mid-tantrum to find Garcelle, Kyle, Sutton, Erika, and recent arrival Kathy Hilton all hanging out by the front door with the umpteen pictures of PK, a paper cut on the inside of your eyelid. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2025

There are also umpteen toilets throughout the five floors, plus a prayer room on level one and a sensory room at the very top. —Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

blend of umpty (such and such) and -teen (as in thirteen)

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

umpteen

adjective

ump·​teen ˈəm(p)-ˈtēn 

ˌəm(p)-

: numerous but not fixed in amount

umpteen million things to do