dozen

noun

doz·​en ˈdə-zᵊn 

plural dozens or dozen

1

: a group of 12

roses sold by the dozen

2

: an indefinitely large number

dozens of times

Dozens of people were at the park.

3

the dozens plural in form but singular in construction, African American English : a ritualized African American word game that consists of exchanging insults usually about the members of an opponent's family

… He also likes to crack jokes. On this side of the diaspora, we would call that playing the dozens. That's also a big part of hip-hop culture.

—Tressie McMillan Cottom

In African American culture there is a verbal game of teasing known as "playing the dozens" consisting of two people, typically males, trading insults about each other and their family members.

—Leon Williams

compare capping entry 2, joning

dozen adjective

dozenth

ˈdə-zᵊn(t)th 

adjective

I'm telling you for the dozenth time.

Synonyms of dozen

• 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

One wonderfully chic option is Qatar Airways, which operates in dozens of cities across the world, from the Middle East to the Americas to Australia. —Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026

More than two dozen Chicago Public Schools parents and community members gathered outside a Pilsen elementary school Monday morning, voicing concerns over the district’s decision to hold a day of civic engagement on May 1. —Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026

CharlotteFive was among the media outlets invited to the dining experience in Charlotte, along with dozens of superfans, influencers, city leaders and others lucky enough to snag a seat. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026

Two decades later, more than a dozen tea houses and specialty shops have opened, and the city hosts year-round high tea events that gather enthusiasts from around the region and the world. —Adam Stone Studio Usa Today, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026

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