grosser; grossest
1
always used before a noun
: very obvious or noticeable
There is a gross [=glaring] error in the text.
They have suffered a gross injustice.
That's a gross exaggeration.
2
a
: rude or offensive
gross [=vulgar, coarse] language
b
informal
: very disgusting
That soup looks gross.
She has a gross habit of chewing on the ends of her hair.
3
always used before a noun
: including everything
What was the gross [=total] weight of the shipment?
—used especially to describe a total amount of money that exists before anything (such as taxes or expenses) is taken awaythe company's gross annual profits
Their gross earnings were $50,000.
4
: very big or fat
a gross man with an enormous belly
—used to describe a total amount of money that exists before anything (such as taxes or expenses) is taken away
They earned $50,000, gross.
grosses; grossed; grossing
: to earn (an amount of money) before taxes, expenses, etc., are taken away
They grossed $50,000 before taxes.
plural grosses
: the amount of money earned before taxes, expenses, etc., are taken away
They give five percent of their gross to charity every year.
plural gross
: a group of 144 things : 12 dozen
a gross of pencils
selling pencils by the gross
Cite this Entry
“Gross.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/gross. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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