billion

word

/ˈbɪɫjən/
BIL-yuhn
/bˈɪliən/
BIL-yuhn

Definition

A billion is the number 1,000,000,000, which is one thousand million. It is used for talking about very large amounts of money, people, or things.

Usage & Nuances

In modern English, 'billion' means 1,000,000,000. Be careful with translation: some languages use a similar-looking word for 1,000,000,000,000, so learners should check the local system. Common collocations include 'a billion dollars', 'billions of people', and 'multi-billion-dollar company'.

Example Sentences

The company made one billion dollars last year.

basic

About billion people use this app every month.

basic

One billion is a very large number.

basic

That startup reached a billion-dollar valuation in just three years.

natural

It sounds crazy, but the video got over a billion views.

natural

We're talking about a billion dollars, not a small mistake.

natural