Billion
/ˈbɪl.jən/noun
A number equal to one thousand million in most English-speaking countries, or one million million in older British usage.
Did you know?The word was created in 17th-century French by adding the augmentative suffix -illion to million, and its meaning later split between the short scale and long scale numbering systems.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
French
billion
“A number formed from million with an added suffix, originally in the long-scale system”
Late 17th Century
French
milliard / billion
“Competing large-number terms used in different counting systems”
18th Century
English
billion
“Adopted into English as a very large number”
19th–20th Century
English
billion
“Standardized in American English as 1,000,000,000; older British usage kept the long scale for a time”
Modern English
English
billion
“Usually one thousand million in contemporary English”
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