billion

Definition

Either of two large amounts:

Etymology

From French billion, equivalent to bi- (“two”) + -illion.

Example Sentences

• "At the last assessment it [the national debt] amounts to seven billion pounds (£7,000,000,000)."
• "In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result."
• "However, despite the prospect of HS2 being curtailed and the revelation that the programme is late and billions over budget, for now, at least, work on the scheme appears to be business as usual"

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