million dollar

USAGE SUMMARY

'million dollar' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to express an amount of money that is very large. For example, "He won a million dollar jackpot!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Million Dollar Arm, $1.8m.

The Guardian - Film

And, Million Dollar Baby.

The Guardian - Film

Million dollar babes?

The Times

(At DKNY, she played "Million Dollar Bill").

The New York Times

That is the million dollar question, right?

Harvard University

The Million Dollar Pier Song.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

That needs a multi-million dollar investment".

The Economist

That's a one hundred million dollar contract.

Columbia University

They have a ten million dollar investment altogether.

The New Yorker

(See Homes, multi-million dollar).

Huffington Post

Million-dollar baby?

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "million dollar" to describe something non-monetary (e.g., "million dollar smile"), ensure the context clearly implies high value or desirability.

Common error

Avoid using "million dollar" when referring to amounts significantly different from one million dollars. For example, do not use the phrase when the value is closer to half a million or a few million, as it can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "million dollar" primarily functions as a pre-modifying adjective describing a noun, indicating that the noun is associated with a high monetary value or, metaphorically, high worth. According to Ludwig, the phrase is valid and commonly used. The examples show both literal and figurative usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "million dollar" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something of high monetary value or, metaphorically, of great worth. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely accepted in written English. It is versatile, appearing in various contexts from news articles to academic papers, but most frequently in News & Media. When using the phrase metaphorically, ensure the context clearly signals the intended meaning of high value or desirability. While the literal definition refers to one million dollars, the phrase is often used loosely to indicate a generally high value. Related phrases include "extremely valuable" and ""multi-million dollar"".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

multi-million dollar

Specifies a value in the millions, implying a higher magnitude.

expensive

A simpler, more general term for high cost.

extremely valuable

Replaces the monetary value with a general term for high worth.

high-priced

Focuses on the expensive nature of something without specifying the exact amount.

a fortune

An idiomatic expression indicating a large sum of money or significant value.

costly

Emphasizes the high cost involved.

exorbitantly priced

Highlights the excessively high price.

of great value

Indicates significant worth, not necessarily monetary.

premium quality

Shifts the focus to the superior quality associated with high value.

top-tier

Implies the highest level of quality and value.

FAQs

How is "million dollar" used in a sentence?

You can use "million dollar" to describe something with a high monetary value, as in "a million dollar house", or to metaphorically describe something of great value, such as "a million dollar idea".

What are some alternatives to "million dollar"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "extremely valuable", "high-priced", or "very expensive".

Is it correct to use "million dollar" to describe something that is not exactly one million dollars?

While "million dollar" literally means one million dollars, it's often used more loosely to suggest something is generally very valuable or expensive. However, for precise figures, it's best to be accurate.

When should I use "multi-million dollar" instead of "million dollar"?

Use "multi-million dollar" when you are referring to amounts that are clearly more than one million dollars. This makes it clear that the value is in the range of several millions, not just one. "A "multi-million dollar" project indicates that the project's cost exceeds a single million.