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Billion vs Billon - What's the difference?

billion | billon |

As a numeral billion

is a milliard, a thousand million: 1 followed by nine zeros, 109.

As a noun billon is

any of several alloys of precious metals and base metals that is used (where legal) to make coins, medals etc.

billion

English

Numeral

(head)
  • A milliard, a thousand million: 1 followed by nine zeros, 109.
  • * {{quote-magazine, title=No hiding place
    • , date=2013-05-25, volume=407, issue=8837, page=74, magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result.}}
  • A million million: a 1 followed by twelve zeros, 1012.
  • (colloquial, in the plural, hyperbole) A very large number.

    • See also

    * (short scale) Previous': million. ' Next trillion: * (long scale) Previous': milliard. ' Next billiard: * ISO prefix: giga-

    Derived terms

    * billionaire

    Related terms

    * trillion, coined at same time

    billon

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia billon) (en noun)
  • Any of several alloys of precious metals and base metals that is used (where legal) to make coins, medals etc.