Definition

A number that is equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000) or 10 to the power of 9.

Example

The company made a profit of one billion dollars last year.

Conversation

Did you hear that the new tech company is valued at a billion dollars?

Yeah, that's incredible! It's hard to imagine such a large number.

I know, right? A billion seems like a dream for most people.

Absolutely! I wonder how they even plan to spend that much.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Billion originates from the French word 'billion', which is derived from 'bi-' (meaning two) and 'illion', a suffix used in large numbers. The term originally referred to a million million (10^12) in the French numbering system, thus indicating a quantity that is two sets of millions.

Memory Tip

Think of 'bi-' meaning two, and remember that a billion is like having two million sets, which helps you understand the vastness of a billion.

Visually Confused Words