Definition

A number that is equal to one thousand billion, or 1 followed by 12 zeros (1,000,000,000,000).

Example

The national debt has reached over a trillion dollars.

Conversation

Did you hear that the company's value has reached a trillion dollars?

Wow, that’s an insane amount of money!

I know, right? It’s hard to even imagine a trillion of anything.

Seriously! It makes you think about how much that really is.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Trillion is formed from the prefix 'tri-' (meaning three) and the suffix '-illion' (derived from 'million', which comes from the Latin 'mille', meaning thousand). The word 'trillion' refers to three groups of three zeros after a thousand, or one million million.

Memory Tip

Think of 'tri-' meaning three, and remember that a trillion is a thousand million, which is three groups of three zeros.

Visually Confused Words