Milliard Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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milliard

[ˈmɪliɑrd ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

large number

The term 'milliard' is a numerical term equivalent to one billion (1,000,000,000). It is commonly used in some countries, particularly in Europe, to describe large quantities, especially in economic contexts. The word is less common in English-speaking countries, where 'billion' is preferred. Despite its rarity in contemporary usage, 'milliard' is still used in specific sectors, such as finance and demographic statistics, particularly in European languages.

Synonyms

billion.

Examples of usage

  • The population of the country exceeded two milliard.
  • The company reported a profit of three milliard last year.
  • He won a contract worth five milliard dollars.
  • The government estimated the cost of the project to be around one milliard.

Translations

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Origin of 'milliard'

The word 'milliard' originated in the early 19th century, derived from the French term 'milliard', which itself is a combination of 'mille' (one thousand) and 'ard', a suffix used in numbers. In English, the word was introduced to provide a clearer distinction between the American and British numbering systems. The American system adopted 'billion' to refer to 1,000 million, while many European countries continued to use 'milliard' for the same value. The usage of 'milliard' signifies the importance of regional language variations in the field of mathematics and economics, reflecting how different cultures interpret numerical values. Although 'milliard' has fallen out of favor in many English-speaking areas, it remains prevalent in other languages, highlighting the evolution of numerical terminology in global communication.


Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,759 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.