billion

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "billion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a very large number, usually a thousand million (1,000,000,000). For example: "The company earned a billion dollars in revenue last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

As part of our coverage around One Billion Rising we want you to help us build a global picture of violence against women.

The Guardian

Will you take part in One Billion Rising?

The Guardian

On 14 February the One Billion Rising campaign is calling on women and men to rise up and demand an end to violence against women.

The Guardian

In Britain, the new chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, said on Monday that he would push through £6 billion ($8.65 billion) in spending cuts in an effort to convince skittish markets that the new government led by David Cameron was committed to fiscal restraint.

The New York Times

He announced pay cuts of about 5 percent for civil servants — and 15 percent for government ministers — as well as other measures totaling 15 billion euros.

The New York Times

If you accept that adding 30 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere every year is a bad thing, then you have to accept that someone should do something about it.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

The drones will be used as atmospheric satellites, part of Google's plan to provide internet access to areas without ground-based access and the four billion people currently without access, its senior vice president of product, Sundar Pichai, revealed during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The Guardian - Tech

The city's fireworks were beamed to one billion people worldwide while a million lined the harbour, according to the council, for one of the most expensive and spectacular events in Sydney's calendar.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Two billion pounds of tax credit cuts will go ahead in April along with the continued freezing of child benefit.

The Guardian - Opinion

The majors prefer Vevo because they own it, and get a better deal from advertising sold there, and with an estimated four billion videos served up monthly there, Vevo is probably doing OK, thank you.

The Guardian - Tech

If you have a world of seven billion, and if you are alone in that world, I don't think that is good for the UK.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "billion", ensure you are consistent with the currency or unit you are referring to. State it clearly, e.g., "billion dollars", "billion barrels".

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by always specifying the currency or unit when using "billion". For instance, it should be "billion euros" rather than just "billion" when discussing European finances.

Linguistic Context

Billion primarily functions as a numeral, specifying a very large quantity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used to quantify amounts, particularly in financial and demographic contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "billion" is a numeral used to represent a quantity of one thousand million (1,000,000,000). Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. It's very common, particularly in news and business reporting, as seen in examples from The Guardian and The New York Times. When using "billion", ensure you specify the unit or currency (e.g., "billion dollars", "billion barrels") to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases include "a thousand million" and "a substantial amount", each offering slight variations in emphasis or precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a thousand million

More precise way to define billion, focusing on its mathematical meaning.

one thousand million

Similar to "a thousand million" but uses the number 'one' for emphasis or clarity.

in the billions

Implies a range within the billions, rather than a specific amount.

a billion units

Specifies that the quantity refers to units of something, rather than currency.

a significant sum

Emphasizes the financial importance of the quantity, but lacks numerical precision.

a substantial amount

Less specific, indicating a large quantity without exact numerical value.

a massive figure

Highlights the large scale of the number without being confined to monetary values.

a staggering amount

Highlights the surprising or overwhelming nature of the quantity.

a considerable number

Similar to "a large quantity", but suggests the number is worth noting.

a large quantity

General term for a big amount, replacing the specific numerical value.

FAQs

How do you use "billion" in a sentence?

You can use "billion" to describe large numbers or amounts. For example, "The company's revenue exceeded one "billion dollars" this year."

What is another way to say "billion"?

Alternatives include "a thousand million" or "one thousand million", although "billion" is the most common and widely understood term.

Is it correct to say "billions"?

Yes, "billions" is the plural form of "billion" and is used to refer to multiple instances of a billion or an unspecified large number in the billions. For example, "The project cost "billions" of dollars."

What's the difference between "billion" and "million"?

"Billion" refers to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), while "million" refers to one thousand thousand (1,000,000). A billion is a thousand times larger than a million.