gazillion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gazillion" is correct and usable in written English, though it is informal.
It can be used to express an extremely large, indefinite number, often in a humorous or exaggerated context. Example: "There are a gazillion stars in the universe, making it impossible to count them all."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Now even billions seem quaint, what with the current national liability being either a zillion krillion gazillion dollars or a krillion gazillion zillion dollars, depending on whether you use the figures of the Office of Management and Budget or the Office of Budget and Management.

The New Yorker

My dad was my musical influence a gazillion per cent.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One pointless job-throttling rule struck down; only a gazillion more to go.Red tape is a mounting problem for American business.

The Economist

This year Time Warner joined with Comcast, the industry leader, to pay $18 billion for Adelphia Communications, a troubled rival, and to share its subscribers".We like this business, we've said it a gazillion times," Time Warner's boss, Richard Parsons, told analysts recently.

The Economist

"We just wish we had product right now, because we could sell a gazillion of them," he says.The ironic result is that the biggest beneficiary so far of the trend toward distributed generation is probably an old-economy company: Caterpillar, the world's biggest manufacturer of diesel generators.

The Economist

It was like making a music video in front of a gazillion people, except with live vocals, and only one chance to rock it.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

On average, Technorati tracks some 50,000 new posts an hour.Special report Among the audience It's the links, stupid Compose yourself The wiki principle Heard on the street Wonders of the metaverse The gazillion-dollar question What sort of revolution?

The Economist

"It's the purest way of profiting from creativity," says Mr Rosedale.Special report Among the audience It's the links, stupid Compose yourself The wiki principle Heard on the street Wonders of the metaverse The gazillion-dollar question What sort of revolution?

The Economist

He will not divulge how much profit he makes, but the advertising and syndication revenues (from other internet sites that run Ohmy's articles) seem to keep him going nicely.Special report Among the audience It's the links, stupid Compose yourself The wiki principle Heard on the street Wonders of the metaverse The gazillion-dollar question What sort of revolution?

The Economist

People can then listen in their car, while jogging, or wherever and whenever they please.Special report Among the audience It's the links, stupid Compose yourself The wiki principle Heard on the street Wonders of the metaverse The gazillion-dollar question What sort of revolution?

The Economist

With that, the episode became a scholarly footnote in media history.Special report Among the audience It's the links, stupid Compose yourself The wiki principle Heard on the street Wonders of the metaverse The gazillion-dollar question What sort of revolution?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a formal audience, opt for more precise or conventional terms like "countless" or "innumerable".

Common error

Avoid using "gazillion" in academic papers, business reports, or other formal documents. Its informal nature can undermine the credibility and professionalism of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "gazillion" is as a noun, typically used as a placeholder for an unspecified, extremely large number. As Ludwig AI suggests, it often appears in informal contexts to exaggerate quantity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gazillion" is an informal noun used to represent an extremely large, unspecified number. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct but best suited for casual contexts where exaggeration or humor is appropriate. While frequently found in news and media, it should be avoided in formal writing in favor of more precise terms like "countless" or "innumerable". Remember to reserve "gazillion" for situations where its playful tone enhances your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

countless number

Replaces the informal "gazillion" with a more formal and literal expression of innumerability.

immeasurable quantity

Emphasizes the inability to measure or quantify the amount, providing a sense of vastness.

astronomical figure

Implies a number as large as those encountered in astronomy, suggesting immense scale.

unfathomable amount

Highlights the difficulty in comprehending the sheer size of the quantity.

huge quantity

A simpler, less exaggerated way to indicate a large number.

vast amount

Similar to "huge quantity" but with a slightly more formal tone.

virtually infinite

Suggests a quantity so large it approaches infinity.

oodles of

A more playful and informal way to indicate a large quantity, similar in tone to "gazillion".

tons of

An informal expression indicating a large quantity, often used in casual conversation.

a great deal of

A more formal alternative, suitable for various contexts where a large quantity needs to be indicated.

FAQs

How can I use "gazillion" in a sentence?

You can use "gazillion" to exaggerate a large number, for example: "There are a "gazillion" stars in the sky." It's best suited for informal contexts.

What's a more formal synonym for "gazillion"?

Alternatives include "countless", "innumerable", or "a vast number of", which are more appropriate for formal writing.

Is "gazillion" a real number?

"Gazillion" is not a real number; it's an informal term for a very large, unspecified quantity. It's similar to saying "a zillion" or "a million", but even more exaggerated.

When should I avoid using "gazillion"?

Avoid using "gazillion" in formal settings, such as academic papers, business reports, or professional communications. Instead, use more precise and formal alternatives.