gazillion

Everyday

1. (informal, hyperbole) A gazillion is a made-up, huge number used to say «very, very many»; it is not a real number. tree →
2. Gazillions means an enormous amount, more than anyone could count. tree →

In the lessons

In lessons on hyperbole it is a typical exaggeration: «I've told you a gazillion times!» It tells the reader that there are a lot, not an exact amount. Children also say zillion, bazillion, squillion, umpteen. In maths it is not a real number like million or billion. Phrases: a gazillion times, gazillions of, a gazillion and one.

Examples

• I've asked you a gazillion times to tidy your room! tree →
• There were gazillions of ants on the picnic blanket. tree →
• She has a gazillion stickers in her collection. tree →
• The sky had a gazillion stars that night. tree →
• «How many questions are on the test?» «About a gazillion.» tree →
• The phone game has gazillions of players. tree →

Note

Informal; do not use it in serious writing or for a maths answer. A gazillion is NOT a real number: a million is 1,000,000 and a billion is 1,000,000,000, but a gazillion has no value. Other made-up words like it: zillion, jillion, bazillion, squillion. In a word problem, «a gazillion» is exaggeration and gives no number to calculate with.