noun
gazillion
guh-ZIHL-yuhn
Gazillion (noun) means an enormous, deliberately vague number, used informally rather than as an exact figure. Example: “There must be a gazillion emails sitting in my inbox.”
noun
1
An enormous, deliberately vague number, used informally rather than as an exact figure.
"There must be a gazillion emails sitting in my inbox."
"He has a gazillion excuses for being late."
How to use gazillion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn exaggerated way of saying "a huge number," not a real quantity.
When to use it
Informal and humorous — avoid in formal or technical writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- gazillions
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There must be a _____ emails sitting in my inbox.
Etymology
A playful 20th-century coinage modelled on real number words like million and billion, with the exaggerated-sounding "gaz-" front used purely for comic effect.
Class of 1900
gazillion joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Related words
Rhymes for gazillion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for gazillion →
Frequently asked questions
What does “gazillion” mean?
The word “gazillion” means an enormous, deliberately vague number, used informally rather than as an exact figure. In plain terms, an exaggerated way of saying "a huge number," not a real quantity.
How do you pronounce “gazillion”?
“Gazillion” is pronounced guh-ZIHL-yuhn (/ɡəˈzɪljən/ in IPA).
How do you use “gazillion” in a sentence?
Here is “gazillion” used in a sentence: “There must be a gazillion emails sitting in my inbox.”
What part of speech is “gazillion”?
“Gazillion” is a noun.
Where does the word “gazillion” come from?
The word “gazillion” dates back to around 1900. A playful 20th-century coinage modelled on real number words like million and billion, with the exaggerated-sounding "gaz-" front used purely for comic effect.
