million: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral (used across all registers from casual to formal)
Quick answer
What does “million” mean?
The number 1,000,000.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The number 1,000,000; a thousand thousands.
A very large but indefinite number or quantity; used figuratively to express great magnitude, intensity, or value.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical. Historical difference exists for 'billion' (UK formerly meant a million million, US a thousand million), but 'million' is stable. Spelling in compound numbers (e.g., 'two million five hundred thousand') is consistent.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotations.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “million” in a Sentence
NUM + million + countable noun (two million euros)a/one million + of + determiner + noun (a million of them)millions + of + plural noun (millions of stars)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “million” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He won a million-pound lottery.
- It was a million-to-one shot.
American English
- She gave me a million-dollar smile.
- He faced million-dollar fines.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for financial figures, sales, investments, and market size (e.g., 'The project has a budget of ten million').
Academic
Used in statistics, demographics, and large-scale scientific measurements (e.g., 'The fossil is estimated to be 3.5 million years old').
Everyday
Used hyperbolically to express large quantities or strong emotions (e.g., 'I've told you a million times', 'Thanks a million!').
Technical
Used as a standard unit in computing (megabytes/megabits), astronomy (distances), and population studies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “million”
- Adding 's' after a numeral ('five millions people' – incorrect).
- Omitting 'of' in the plural indefinite form ('millions people' – incorrect).
- Confusing 'million' with 'billion' in financial/news contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Use 'five million' (no 's') when it is a precise number acting as a determiner (e.g., five million dollars). Use 'millions' (with 's') only for vague, large quantities, always followed by 'of' (e.g., millions of insects).
It is grammatically singular. Use a singular verb: 'A million pounds is a lot of money.' However, when referring to a million individual items/people, a plural verb is common in British English: 'A million people were watching.'
'Million' refers to a specific number (1,000,000) or is used after another number (two million). 'Millions' is a plural noun meaning 'many millions' and is used indefinitely, always with 'of' (millions of years).
Yes, in compound adjectives before a noun, often hyphenated (e.g., a million-dollar deal, a million-pound weight). It describes the value, cost, or scale of the noun.
The number 1,000,000.
Million is usually neutral (used across all registers from casual to formal) in register.
Million: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪljən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪljən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “one in a million”
- “look/feel like a million dollars/bucks”
- “thanks a million”
- “never in a million years”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a huge stadium filled with exactly ONE MILLION cheering fans – that's a visual for an immense, specific number.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS SIZE/VOLUME ('a flood of millions'); IMPORTANCE/VALUE IS WEALTH ('an idea worth a million'); FREQUENCY IS ACCUMULATION ('I've asked you a million times').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence is grammatically correct?