trillion

noun

tril·​lion ˈtri(l)-yən How to pronounce trillion (audio)
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 adjective or noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web In August, Congress finally passed the Budget Control Act, another compromise, which cut spending by nearly $1 trillion over 10 years and aimed to save an additional trillion through caps on discretionary spending and automatic spending cuts. Dustin Walker And Mackenzie Eaglen, WSJ, 18 Dec. 2022 Its real cost over 10 years is $1 trillion and another trillion the decade after that. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 21 Oct. 2021 The rare metals on asteroids are valued in the trillions of dollars. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 3 Apr. 2020 Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s original proposal for a Green New Deal includes trillions in funding for Medicare for All but nothing for nuclear power. Jonah Goldberg, National Review, 27 Mar. 2020 Warren's promise to immediately cancel trillions in student loan debt is perhaps the single most famous item from any candidate here. Bonnie Kristian, TheWeek, 11 Feb. 2020 Even with no talks expected for this year, some countries have gone ahead with climate plans and pledged trillions in stimulus measures to recover from the coronavirus shock. Jess Shankleman, Bloomberg.com, 26 May 2020 Rightly so, when trillions in taxpayer dollars are at stake. Paul S. Atkins, WSJ, 28 Apr. 2020 AP Photo/John Minchillo To blunt a major recession sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, the US Federal Reserve has poured liquidity into global markets and US lawmakers have authorized trillions in economic relief spending. Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 21 Apr. 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trillion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1690, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trillion was in 1690

Dictionary Entries Near trillion

Cite this Entry

“Trillion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trillion. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

trillion

noun
tril·​lion ˈtril-yən How to pronounce trillion (audio)
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 adjective
trillionth noun
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