million

noun

mil·​lion ˈmi(l)-yən 

plural millions or million

1

: a number equal to 1,000 times 1,000 see Table of Numbers

2

: a very large number

millions of cars on the road

3

: the mass of common people

—used with the

million adjective

millionfold

ˈmi(l)-yən-ˌfōld 

adverb or adjective

millionth

ˈmi(l)-yən(t)th 

adjective or noun

Synonyms

• commoners
• commons
• crowd
• herd
• hoi polloi
• mass
• mob
• multitude
• people
• plebeians
• plebs
• populace
• public
• rank and file

Examples of million in a Sentence

intellectuals sneered that television was a medium clearly aimed at the millions

Recent Examples on the Web

Three indirect deaths were reported, with damage in Puerto Rico estimated in the tens of millions of dollars. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024

Trending Nationally Atmospheric river heading into Bay Area, will bring first major storms of winter rainy season Boston is spending millions on bike lanes amid a budget crunch. —The Denver Post, 20 Nov. 2024

And not too long after that, the pastor said, a donor — a member of a Detroit family with a family foundation that seeks be anonymous — came to the church and offered a substantial amount, millions of dollars, to get the project started. —Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024

Between the lines: Cutting Watson before his contract expires in 2026 would still cost the Browns tens of millions of dollars, while his high salary makes a trade highly unlikely. —Troy Smith, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English milioun, from Middle French milion, from Old Italian milione, augmentative of mille thousand, from Latin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing million

• look/feel like a million dollars/bucks
• never/not in a thousand/million/billion years
• one in a million
• thanks a bunch/lot/million
• thanks a million

Kids Definition

million

noun

mil·​lion ˈmil-yən 

plural millions or million

1

: a number equal to 1,000 times 1,000 see number

2

: a very great number

millions of mosquitoes

million adjective

millionth

-yən(t)th 

adjective or noun