B2nounmoney
US/ˈbɪl.jən/
UK/ˈbɪl.jən/
the number 1,000,000,000, a thousand million
In context
More than eight billion people now live on Earth.
The new airport will cost about sixteen billion dollars.
Billions of plastic bottles end up in the ocean every year.
Words that go with billion
noun + noun
- billion dollarsThe company is now worth over a billion dollars.
- billion peopleAbout one billion people still have no electricity.
- billion dongAn apartment in the city center costs at least five billion dong.
noun + preposition
- billions ofBillions of people use smartphones every day.
adjective + noun
- a billion-dollarGaming has become a billion-dollar industry in Asia.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
The project cost three billions dollars.Correct: The project cost three billion dollars.