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quadrillion

quadrillion

8.0
The number 1 followed by 24 zeros, used in older British number system
  • noun
  • /kwɑːˈdrɪljən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : cuatrillón
  • NASA's budget for the new space project is estimated at over 1 quadrillion dollars.

Examples

  • Global carbon emissions are expected to rise to 2 quadrillion grams by 2050.

  • Unless right now somebody is thinking of that very number, the third prime number after 27 quadrillion doesn't exist.

    Blog text (8)
  • The national debt reached an astonishing quadrillion dollars last year.

Synonyms

septillion
vsquadrillion
  • US
9.9

A very large number that is 1 followed by twenty four zeros

has identical value but is the British name for that number

Surface Forms

quadrillion singular
quadrillions plural

Morphology

quadrillion = million (semi-transparent) = quadri + million

The morphology signals the 'quadri-' element plus the '-illion' series, but this sense follows the long-scale convention (10^24), so learners cannot derive the exact power of ten from the parts without knowing scale conventions.

Etymology

Quadrillion comes from the Latin root quadri- meaning 'four' and the familiar -illion from million, because it is the fourth large number name after million. In older British use it meant 1 followed by 24 zeros, a 'million millions of millions'.