trillion

noun

tril·​lion ˈtri(l)-yən 

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

ˈtri(l)-yən(t)th 

adjective or noun

Examples of trillion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The platform recently launched its third-generation trading system, reducing order processing time from 20 milliseconds to just two milliseconds and handling up to 80,000 orders per second—a considerable achievement for a platform with trading volumes in the trillions. —Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Stocks began tumbling almost immediately, shedding trillions of dollars in market value overnight. —Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025

The free-fall amounts to the biggest two-day drop for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq since March 2020, when the pandemic began, and has wiped out trillions of dollars in investor wealth. —Alain Sherter, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2025

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell around 4 percent, wiping trillions of dollars off market value. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1690, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for trillion

• billion
• million
• pillion
• castilian
• civilian
• cotillion
• pavilion
• postilion
• quadrillion
• reptilian
• vermilion
• vermillion

Kids Definition

trillion

noun

tril·​lion ˈtril-yən 

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

-yən(t)th 

adjective

trillionth noun