Octodecillion

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌɒktoʊdəˈsɪl.i.ən/

Definitions

1. A term used in mathematics to describe the number equivalent to 10 raised to the 57th power, representing an extremely large value that sits between the septendecillion and the nonillion
2. This is a quantifiable value defined as 10 to the 57th power, indicating an immense figure that is ordered in the sequence of large numbers, positioned after septendecillion and before nonillion
3. A designation for a numeric value defined as 10 raised to the power of 57, illustrating an extraordinarily high quantity that follows septendecillion and precedes nonillion

Etymology: Octodecillion is one of the large-number names built on the Latin counting pattern used for the "-illion" series. Its first element comes from "octodecim," Latin for "eighteen," which combines "octo" (eight) with "decem" (ten) to mean eight beyond ten. The ending "-illion" is the same suffix found in million, billion and trillion, and the whole series follows the same logic: each name takes a Latin ordinal-style number and attaches the "-illion" ending. The name sits in a sequence with words such as tredecillion (thirteen) and quattuordecillion (fourteen), where the prefix tells you how many steps up the series the number lies. Octodecillion is therefore the name for 10 to the 57th power, placed between septendecillion and nonillion in that scheme. Because the word is a systematic coinage rather than an ancient term, its shape is more interesting than its history. The prefix does the work, and anyone who knows Latin numerals can work out the rough size of the number from the name alone.