quadrillion

Everyday

1. A quadrillion is the number 1,000,000,000,000,000: a thousand trillion, a 1 followed by 15 zeros. tree →
2. (informal) It can mean a huge number. tree →

In the lessons

In maths lessons on place value and big numbers: million (6 zeros), billion (9), trillion (12), quadrillion (15). In science it describes huge counts, like ants on Earth. Phrases: a quadrillion dollars.

Examples

• A quadrillion has fifteen zeros. tree →
• There may be about twenty quadrillion ants on Earth. tree →
• A quadrillion is a thousand trillions. tree →
• I've told you a quadrillion times! tree →
• Computers can do a quadrillion sums a second. tree →
• Write one quadrillion in digits: 1,000,000,000,000,000. tree →

Note

In maths: 1 quadrillion = 10^15 = 1,000 trillion. In the old British system it meant 10^24, but today almost everyone uses 10^15. After a number, no -s: «two quadrillion».