million

USAGE SUMMARY

"million" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when referring to a specific count, such as "I have a million reasons why I should go to the park today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The 2 million people from other EU states who live in Britain will be forced to have resident permits or identity cards if David Cameron is to fulfil his pledge to make rules on access to public services for new migrants the toughest in Europe.

The Guardian

Last summer the Electoral Commission said 7.5 million eligible voters were not registered, with poor, black and young people least likely to be on the electoral roll.

The Guardian

The report responds to lawmakers, mainly Republicans, who have argued that federal authorities must do much more to strengthen enforcement before Congress can consider any legalization for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country.

The New York Times

BBC1 was marginally down on the 4.1 million viewers who turned in five years ago, with ITV suffering a more precipitous drop from 1.3 million last time round.

The Guardian

BBC1's Election 2015 programme had an average of 4.3 million viewers, a 38.5% share, from 9.55pm on Thursday, kicking off with its shock exit poll that predicted an unexpected 316 seats for the Conservatives.

The Guardian

Channel 4 began with 1.7 million viewers (8%) from 9pm, rising to 2 million viewers (9.1%) for a Last Leg special with Adam Hills at 9.30pm and 1.9 million viewers (10%) for a Gogglebox election edition at 10pm.

The Guardian

In November, 6.7 million Americans worked part-time; 2.3 million of them wanted full-time work but couldn't find it.

The Guardian - Money

Today some 23.7 million Hispanics are eligible to vote, an increase of more than 4 million since 2008.

The Guardian

Most people need help in neighbouring countries and Britain is rightly setting an example in providing aid to the nearly 4 million Syrian refugees in the region.

The Guardian

She couldn't quite shatter the glass ceiling in 2008, but she vowed that the "18 million cracks" she had etched in it would help ensure it would yield in the end.

The Guardian - Opinion

Shillinglaw said the task of reinventing the show, which is watched by 6 million viewers on BBC2 and is a global hit generating £50m a year for the BBC, was "a challenge but it's genuinely creatively exciting".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "million", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to a specific count or an approximate quantity.

Common error

Avoid using "million" hyperbolically in very informal contexts where a more understated expression would be more appropriate. Overusing it can dilute its impact when precision matters.

Linguistic Context

The word "million" primarily functions as a numeral, specifically a cardinal number. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is suitable in written English. It modifies nouns to indicate a quantity of 1,000,000, as seen in examples like "2 million people" or "4.3 million viewers".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The numeral "million" is a very common and grammatically correct term used to quantify a large number, specifically 1,000,000. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a suitable word in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as formal business contexts, "million" serves to provide a specific scale and is generally neutral in register. Related phrases include "one million" and descriptive alternatives like "a thousand thousand". When using "million", clarity and context are key to ensure appropriate communication. Ludwig examples showcase consistent, correct usage across diverse sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one million

This alternative specifies the quantity more explicitly.

1,000,000

This alternative represents "million" as a numerical value.

a thousand thousand

This alternative uses a descriptive phrase to represent "million".

large number

This is a more general way to refer to "million", focusing on the quantity.

considerable quantity

This alternative emphasizes the magnitude of the quantity.

substantial amount

This alternative shifts the focus to the amount rather than the specific number.

innumerable instances

This alternative focuses on the frequency and countability.

a great many

This is an idiomatic expression signifying a large, unspecified quantity.

heaps of

This is an informal way of referring to "million", focusing on the quantity.

tons of

This is an informal expression that emphasizes a large amount.

FAQs

How do I use "million" in a sentence?

Use "million" to denote a quantity of one thousand thousand, as in "The project cost a "million" dollars" or "There are "million" reasons to be happy".

What can I say instead of "million"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "one million", "large number", or "substantial amount".

Is it correct to say "millions" instead of "million"?

Yes, "millions" indicates a quantity of more than one million, while "million" refers specifically to one million. Using "millions" implies an indefinite but large number.

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

"Million" represents one thousand thousand (1,000,000), while "billion" represents one thousand millions (1,000,000,000). A "billion" is a thousand times greater than a "million".