million

Everyday

1. A million is the number 1,000,000: a thousand thousands. tree →
2. Millions or a million can mean a very large number, not exact (informal). tree →

In the lessons

In maths, a million has six zeros: 1,000,000 = 1000 × 1000. Place value: millions, hundred thousands, ten thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens, ones. Populations of cities and countries are given in millions. In stories and talk, "a million times" means very many times. Phrases: a million, two million, millions of, one in a million (very rare or special), a millionaire.

Examples

• A million is a thousand thousands. tree →
• The city has about two million people. tree →
• There are millions of stars in the sky. tree →
• I've told you a million times! tree →
• Write one million in figures: 1,000,000. tree →
• She is one in a million. tree →
• Light travels about three hundred million metres a second. tree →
• One could see the bottom, leagues below, millions of miles below. tree →

Note

After a number, million has no s: two million, five million people. Use "millions of" without a number: millions of ants. 1 million = 1,000,000 = 10 × 100,000. A billion is a thousand millions (1,000,000,000). "A million times" is an exaggeration, not a real count — do not use it in calculation.

In Jewish tradition

In maths, a million has six zeros: 1,000,000 = 1000 × 1000. Place value: millions, hundred thousands, ten thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens, ones. Populations of cities and countries are given in millions. In stories and talk, "a million times" means very many times. Phrases: a million, two million, millions of, one in a million (very rare or special), a millionaire.

Note

After a number, million has no s: two million, five million people. Use "millions of" without a number: millions of ants. 1 million = 1,000,000 = 10 × 100,000. A billion is a thousand millions (1,000,000,000). "A million times" is an exaggeration, not a real count — do not use it in calculation.