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quintillion

A number equal to a thousand quadrillion, or 10 to the 18th power in the short scale (used primarily in North America) or 10 to the 30th power in the long scale (used in some European countries).
Noun
pl: quintillions

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.

Meanings

Noun

A number equal to a thousand quadrillion, or 10 to the 18th power in the short scale (used primarily in North America) or 10 to the 30th power in the long scale (used in some European countries).

The number of grains of sand on Earth is estimated to be in the quintillions.

Examples

There are estimated to be a quintillion stars in the observable universe.

Trivia

A quintillion is a one followed by eighteen zeros in the short scale.

School Life

The computer can perform a quintillion operations per second.

Business

Imagine having a quintillion dollars in your bank account.

The number of atoms in a small grain of sand is roughly a quintillion.

Trivia

That is practically a quintillion times larger than the original sample.

He claimed the dragon had a quintillion gold coins in its hoard.

Fantasy

It would take a quintillion years for this process to happen naturally.

Wait, did you say a trillion or a quintillion?

Related Words

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Last Updated: May 2026Report an Error