zillion, n. & adj.

zillion
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zillion_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2021

# zillionnoun & adjective

## Earlier version

- zillion in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the word zillion mean?

There are two meanings listed in OED's entry for the word zillion. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the word zillion?

About 0.1occurrences per million words in modern written English

1900 | 0.0001
1910 | 0.0006
1920 | 0.0008
1930 | 0.0025
1940 | 0.0048
1950 | 0.011
1960 | 0.027
1970 | 0.065
1980 | 0.11
1990 | 0.15
2000 | 0.18
2010 | 0.22

### How is the word zillion pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzɪljən/
ZIL-yuhn

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɪljən/
ZIL-yuhn

### Where does the word zillion come from?

Earliest known use

1920s

The earliest known use of the word zillion is in the 1920s.

OED's earliest evidence for zillion is from 1920, in the Detroit Free Press.

zillion is a variant or alteration of another lexical item.

Etymons: million n., billion n., trillion n.

### Nearby entries

1. Zika, n. 1952–
2. Zilavka, n. 1926–
3. zilch, n. & adj. 1925–
4. zilch, v. 1957–
5. zill, n. 1754–
6. zilla, n. 1772–
7. -zilla, comb. form
8. zilladar, n. 1763–
9. Zil lane, n. 1985–
10. zilla parishad, n. 1957–
11. zillion, n. & adj.1920–
12. zillionaire, n. 1926–
13. zillionth, n. & adj. 1940–
14. zimb, n. 1790–
15. Zimba, n. 1625–
16. Zimbabwe, n. 1891–
17. Zimbabwean, adj. & n. 1961–
18. zimbel, n. 1888–
19. zimme, n. 1848–63
20. Zimmer, n. 1951–
21. zina, n. 1817–

## Etymology

### Summary

A variant or alteration of another lexical item.
Etymons: million n., billion n., trillion n.
An (arbitrary and humorous) alteration of million n., billion n., trillion n., etc.

Compare squillion n., bazillion adj., etc…
An (arbitrary and humorous) alteration of million n., billion n., trillion n., etc.

Compare squillion n., bazillion adj., etc.

### Notes

In the following zillion appears to be a typographical error: in earlier versions of the newspaper article quoted the reading is ‘four billion francs’.

1. 1901

   > The amount of their credit is over four zillion francs.

   Lima (Ohio) Times-Democrat 16 August

## Meaning & use

colloquial (originally U.S.).

1. noun
   1. 1920–
      A very large but indefinite number or quantity (of something). Usually in plural.
      1. 1920

         > We are willing to be most anything except an incubator for zillions of germs.

         Detroit Free Press 28 February 6/4
      2. 1947

         > Faithful to their zillions of fans.

         Esquire May 40/2
      3. 1987

         > I would be typing along, and when I pressed the ‘O’ I would get a zillion of them on the screen.

         Family Computing February 48/1
      4. 1993

         > Hollywood..suffers from inflated budgets and tries too hard to make movies that make zillions.

         USA Weekend 28 March 4/1
      5. 2001

         > Haring danced and did drugs and had zillions of homosexual encounters.

         Times 27 June ii. 15/1
      U.S. English colloquial and slang
      1. sand Old English–
         In various metaphorical and similative uses. With reference to the innumerability of the grains composing sand.
      2. thousand Old English–
         Often used vaguely or hyperbolically for a large number: cf. hundred, n. & adj.
      3. un-i-rime Old English–1200
         A countless number (of people or things), a multitude; an immense quantity (of something).
      4. legion a1325–
         A vast host or multitude (of persons or things).
      5. fern c1325–1400
         A huge quantity or number.
      6. multitude c1350–
         In singular with count noun. A very large number, a great crowd (of people or things).
      7. hundred 1362–
         Often used indefinitely or hyperbolically for a large number: cf. thousand, n. & adj. (With various constructions, as in sense 1.)
      8. abundance c1384–
         A large number (of things or people).
      9. quantity c1390–
         An indefinite (usually large or considerable) amount or portion. In later use frequently in plural.
      10. sight 1390–
          A show or display of something; hence, a great number or quantity; a multitude; a ‘deal’ or ‘lot’. Now colloquial or slang.
      11. fele c1394–1525
          Quasi-n. Many of. Cf. A.2.
      12. manyhead a1400–40
          Multiplicity.
      13. last c1405–1712
          A large indefinite number. Obsolete.
      14. sort c1475–
          A (great, good, etc.) number or lot of persons or things; a considerable body or quantity; a multitude.
      15. infinity c1480–
          In hyperbolical use (from 1, 2): Immensity, vastness; an indefinitely great amount or number, an exceeding multitude, ‘no end’ (of).
      16. multiplie 1488–1596
          A multitude; great numbers or quantity.
      17. numbers 1488–
          In plural. A (great, infinite, etc.) multitude of people or things.
      18. power 1489–
          A large number, quantity, or amount; an abundance of, a great deal of; a lot of. Now chiefly English regional, Irish English, and U.S. regional…
      19. many 1525–
          Preceded by the indefinite article and frequently (now always exc. English regional) an adjective, as in… With of and a noun phrase (now only one…
      20. flock 1535–
          plural used to indicate: Great numbers, ‘swarms’.
      21. heap a1547–
          plural in same sense. Cf. the like use of ‘lots’.
      22. multitudine 1547–1610
          As a mass noun: numerousness. As a count noun: a multitude, a crowd, a host.
      23. sort 1548–
          In the same sense as preceding without qualifying adjective. Now dialect.
      24. myriads 1555–
          In plural. Countless numbers of people or things; legions, hosts, hordes of the persons or things specified.
      25. myriads 1559–
          In plural. Countless multitudes, hosts (with the objects intended inferred from the context).
      26. infinite 1563–
          In hyperbolical use: An exceedingly large amount or number; a very great quantity or multitude; very… With article or other defining word…
      27. tot-quot 1565
          An indefinite or infinite number; as many as you like.
      28. dicker a1586–1722
          In extended use: a large quantity or number; a lot. Obsolete.
      29. multiple a1595
          Scottish. A multitude, a great number; = multiplie, n. Obsolete. rare.
      30. troop 1596–
          Used to indicate a great number; a ‘lot’; esp. in plural ‘flocks’, ‘swarms’.
      31. multitudes 1598
          In plural. Large numbers (of people or things).
      32. myriad 1611–
          In singular. A countless multitude, a throng.
      33. sea-sands 1656
          plural. Grains of sea-sand. Obsolete.
      34. plurality 1657–
          A large number or quantity of; a multitude, a profusion.
      35. a vast many 1695–
          a vast many, a great many. ? Obsolete.
      36. dozen 1734
          A group or set of twelve. Originally as a noun, followed by of, but often with ellipsis of of, and thus, in singular = twelve. Also, used…
      37. a good few 1756–
          Used as noun: a considerable number; also with of-phrase as complement.
      38. nation 1762–
          A large number or amount of things or people. Now U.S. regional.
      39. vast 1793–
          dialect. A very great number or amount.
      40. billion 1801–
          colloquial. In hyperbolic use: a very large number or amount; a multitude.
      41. a wheen (of) 1814–
          a wheen (of), a few: (in later use also) = a ‘good few’, a fair number.
      42. swad 1828–
          A thick mass, clump, or bunch; hence, a great quantity (also plural).
      43. lot 1833–
          Without of-phrase as complement. In plural. Also reduplicated.
      44. tribe 1833–
          A number or company of persons or animals; a ‘troop’; in plural, large numbers, ‘flocks’.
      45. slew 1839–
          A very large number of, a great amount of. Also in plural.
      46. such a many 1841–
          Miscellaneous. such a few, such a many (colloquial): so few, so many.
      47. right smart 1842–
          A considerable amount; a good deal, a lot.
      48. a million and one 1856–
          (Indefinitely and hyperbolically) a very large number, a great many.
      49. horde 1860–
          A large amount, number, or quantity of a thing or things. Now often in plural: masses, loads.
      50. a good several 1865–
          elliptical and absol., esp. followed by of. a good several (nonce-use): a good many.
      51. sheaf 1865–
          gen. Emphatically in plural: A large number, mass, or quantity.
      52. a (bad, good, etc.) sort c1869–
          So a (bad, good, etc.) sort, applied to a single person. colloquial.
      53. immense 1872–
          Immense, boundless, or vast extent; immensity.
      54. dunnamuch 1875–
          An unknown, but by implication considerable, quantity. Cf. dunnamany, n., much, pron. & n.C.2a.
      55. telephone number 1880–
          a. = phone number, n.; b. colloquial a large number, esp. with reference to a large sum of money; frequently in to be talking telephone numbers; also…
      56. umpty 1905–
          An indefinite number, usually fairly large. (Often used on an analogy with twenty, etc.) Military slang.
      57. dunnamany 1906–
          An unknown quantity or amount, esp. one that is by implication considerable. Cf. dunnamuch, n.
      58. skit 1913–
          A large number, a crowd; plural ‘lots’.
      59. umpteen 1919–
          Such a number in the abstract.
      60. zillion 1920–
          A very large but indefinite number or quantity (of something). Usually in plural.
      61. cricket score 1925–
          The score in a cricket match; (hence) a high number; spec. (in sports other than cricket) an unusually high score.
      62. jillion 1926–
          A very large or inestimable number or amount.
      63. gang 1928–
          U.S. colloquial (chiefly in African American use). A large number or amount; a lot.
      64. gillion 1931–
          A very large but indefinite number (cf. zillion, n.).
      65. scrillion 1935–
          A very large (but indefinite) number or quantity (of something). Usually in plural.
      66. 900 number 1977–
          In the United States and Canada: a telephone number with the digits 900 in place of an area code, chiefly used to access information or…
      67. gazillion 1978–
          A very large (but indefinite) number or quantity (of something); chiefly in plural.
      68. fuckload 1984–
          coarse slang (originally U.S.). A large number or amount; = shitload, n.
      69. gajillion 1991–
          A very large (but indefinite) number or quantity (of something); chiefly in plural.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. adjective
   1. 1925–
      With an article, numeral, or other quantifier, and followed by a plural noun: amounting to a very large (but indefinite) number or quantity.
      1. 1925

         > If a baby Mastodon's first tooth excited the prehistoric age a couple of zillion years ago half as much as a grown Mastodon's tooth excites the moderns of 1925, there would have been quite a commotion..when baby cut its first 'un.

         Sweetwater (Texas) Daily Reporter 25 October
      2. 1976

         > She was going to break the story to her zillion readers.

         J. Crosby, Snake (1977) xvii. 93
      3. 1983

         > Broken Hill Proprietary..is Australia's biggest company and a zillion times bigger than his own.

         Sunday Telegraph 9 October 20/2
      4. 2001

         > Before I went to bed I explained..that I will not in a zillion years be going on the family excursion to Scotland tomorrow.

         L. Rennison, Knocked out by Nunga-nungas 14
      U.S. English colloquial and slang
      1. seven Old English–
         One more than six. Used to denote a large number, quantity, or amount of something. In early use also in †this seven year (also †these seven years…
      2. forty a1616–
         Used indefinitely to express a large number. like forty (U.S. colloquial): with immense force or vigour, ‘like anything’.
      3. any 1758–
         With quantitative force. colloquial. Of number or quantity: great, large, considerable; (also hyperbolically) unlimited, endless. See also any amount…
      4. squillion 1878–
         Very many, countless.
      5. steen 1886–
         An indefinite, (fairly) large number of; ‘umpteen’.
      6. steenth 1895–
         a. Sixteenth. b. Latest in an indefinitely long series; ‘umpteenth’.
      7. trillionth 1901–
         That is number one trillion (trillion, n. A.2a, A.2b) in a sequence: coming last in a series of a trillion. Frequently used hyperbolically to…
      8. umpty 1916–
         An indefinite number of this kind, in adjectival use.
      9. umptieth 1917–
      10. umpteen 1918–
          An indefinite number, used in the sense ‘many, several’, etc.
      11. umpteenth 1918–
          Designating an apparently indefinite but large number (stress variable.)
      12. zillion 1925–
          With an article, numeral, or other quantifier, and followed by a plural noun: amounting to a very large (but indefinite) number or quantity.
      13. squillionth 1927–
          That is an extremely high number in a sequence; coming last in an extremely long series. Also: that is a minute fraction or infinitesimal part of…
      14. jillion 1929–
          Very many, countless.
      15. bazillion 1939–
          With an article, number, or other quantifier, and followed by a plural noun: amounting to a very large (but indefinite) number or quantity.
      16. scrillion 1945–
          With an article, numeral, or other quantifier, and followed by a plural noun: amounting to a very large (but indefinite) number or quantity.
      17. gajillion 1983–
          With an article, number, or other quantifier, and followed by a plural noun: amounting to a very large (but indefinite) number or quantity.
      View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɪljən/
ZIL-yuhn

### U.S. English

/ˈzɪljən/
ZIL-yuhn

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Frequency

zillion typically occurs about 0.1 times per million words in modern written English.

zillion is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zillion, n. & adj., 1900–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1900 | 0.0001
1910 | 0.0006
1920 | 0.0008
1930 | 0.0025
1940 | 0.0048
1950 | 0.011
1960 | 0.027
1970 | 0.065
1980 | 0.11
1990 | 0.15
2000 | 0.18
2010 | 0.22

### Frequency of zillion, n. & adj., 2017–2024

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.

Period | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
2017 | 0.18
2018 | 0.18
2019 | 0.18
2020 | 0.17
2021 | 0.17
2022 | 0.15
2023 | 0.15
2024 | 0.14

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. zillionaire, n. 1926–
   A person of enormous wealth.

1. zillionth, n. & adj. 1940–
   A minute fraction of something.

zillion, n. & adj. was revised in March 2021.

zillion, n. & adj. was last modified in July 2023.