noun
- The plural of octillion; the number 1 followed by 27 zeros in the short scale (U.S. and modern British), or 1 followed by 48 zeros in the long scale (traditional British and European).
Usage: In U.S. English, octillion = 10²⁷; In traditional British and European usage, octillion = 10⁴⁸; Used in mathematics, astronomy, and scientific contexts
Examples
- The number of atoms in the observable universe is estimated to be in the octillions.
- Astronomers work with numbers in the octillions when calculating cosmic distances.
- A octillion is an enormously large number used primarily in theoretical mathematics.
- The short scale defines an octillion as 10 to the 27th power.
- Scientists sometimes express vast quantities in octillions to simplify notation.