googol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowtechnical
Quick answer
What does “googol” mean?
The number 10 to the power of 100, written as 1 followed by 100 zeros.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The number 10 to the power of 100, written as 1 followed by 100 zeros.
Used metaphorically to denote an astronomically large quantity in mathematics, cosmology, and general discourse.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Identical in both variants; both associate it with extreme largeness.
Frequency
Equally rare in British and American English, confined primarily to technical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “googol” in a Sentence
a googol of [noun]googol times [adjective/adverb][verb] a googolVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “googol” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The googol number is beyond comprehension.
American English
- A googol figure is incredibly large.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in hyperbolic expressions about market sizes or data volumes.
Academic
Common in mathematics, physics, and cosmology to describe large-scale phenomena.
Everyday
Almost never used in casual conversation; limited to educational or trivia contexts.
Technical
Standard term in scientific literature for specifying large numerical values.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “googol”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “googol”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “googol”
- Misspelling as 'google'.
- Incorrect stress on the first syllable (e.g., /ɡʊˈɡɒl/).
- Using it as a verb for internet search.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, googol is a mathematical term for the number 10^100, while Google is a technology company named after this number.
In British English, it's /ˈɡuːɡɒl/; in American English, it's /ˈɡuːɡɑːl/.
It was coined in 1938 by Milton Sirotta, the nine-year-old nephew of mathematician Edward Kasner.
No, it is a specialized term primarily found in mathematical, scientific, or educational contexts.
The number 10 to the power of 100, written as 1 followed by 100 zeros.
Googol is usually technical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not in a googol years”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Google' the company, which was named after 'googol'—but googol has 'ol' for the 100 zeros.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SYMBOL OF UNIMAGINABLE VASTNESS, often used to dwarf human-scale quantities.
Practice
Quiz
What is a googol?