1 zillionaire | Definition of zillionaire
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

zillionaire

noun
zil·​lion·​aire | \ ËŒzil-yÉ™-ˈner How to pronounce zillionaire (audio) \

Definition of zillionaire

: an immeasurably wealthy person
Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about zillionaire

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

The word millionaire has been used in English to designate a person who is worth a million pounds or dollars, depending on the side of the ocean, since 1786. We borrowed the word straight from the French, whose millions, of course, were in francs. Millionaire eventually no longer sufficed, and English speakers coined billionaire in 1844. Soon afterwards came multimillionaire, followed by multibillionaire in the early 1900s. Once zillion was made up as a humorous word for an indeterminately large number (patterned on million and billion), it was only a matter of time before zillionaire came along as a humorous word for a person of seemingly immeasurable wealth. Zillion and zillionaire aren't used in the most formal of writing, but they have found their way into plenty of serious publications.

Examples of zillionaire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 The hybrid term has its roots in the venture capital movement, an investment technique pioneered in Silicon Valley, where tech-savvy zillionaires have been plowing their own stashes back into start-ups for four decades. — Kevin Conley, Town & Country, "A Farewell to Alms," 27 May 2014 In steps a savior, Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk), a suspiciously upbeat zillionaire who runs a giant telecommunications company with his watchful sister, Evelyn (Catherine Keener). — Brad Bird, New York Times, "Review: ‘Incredibles 2’ Is a Fast Blast (With Red Flags)," 13 June 2018 Technology stocks that were supposed to make everyone a zillionaire. — Bloomberg.com, "Revisiting The Strange Story Behind the Beanie Babies Bubble," 22 Sep. 2017 Sacks, a zillionaire, is a true Chicago Master of the Universe. — John Kass, chicagotribune.com, "Hail the Obama temple, and silence at City Hall," 24 May 2018 Technology stocks that were supposed to make everyone a zillionaire. — Bloomberg.com, "Revisiting The Strange Story Behind the Beanie Babies Bubble," 22 Sep. 2017 Technology stocks that were supposed to make everyone a zillionaire. — Bloomberg.com, "Revisiting The Strange Story Behind the Beanie Babies Bubble," 22 Sep. 2017 Technology stocks that were supposed to make everyone a zillionaire. — Bloomberg.com, "Revisiting The Strange Story Behind the Beanie Babies Bubble," 22 Sep. 2017 But nowadays velvet slippers are as dressy as lace-ups, and a bottle-green blazer gives a thoughtful and considerate zillionaire vibe. — Nick Marino, GQ, "Project Upgrade: Dolce & Gabbana Bring Sexy Back," 12 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'zillionaire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of zillionaire

1946, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for zillionaire

zillion + -aire (as in millionaire)

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on zillionaire

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with zillionaire

Britannica English: Translation of zillionaire for Arabic Speakers

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!