quintillion

This term describes an astronomical scale of magnitude, typically used in scientific contexts such as astronomy, quantum physics, or combinatorics. Because the number is so vast, it is rarely used in everyday conversation except to emphasize an unfathomable quantity or to describe the scale of the universe.

Users should be aware of the discrepancy between the short scale and the long scale. In the United States and the UK, a quintillion is 10 to the 18th power. However, in some European languages and their corresponding English translations, the long scale defines it as 10 to the 30th power. This can lead to significant confusion in international scientific or financial reporting.