Depends on the sense of 'word' that you mean. The Free Dictionary, not a credible source by any means, says:
"A sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing or printing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning and may consist of a single morpheme or of a combination of morphemes." Saying the word 'Gazillion' represents a number that is so large that you cannot fathom how large it is, and while it doesn't represent a specific thing it does represent a specific idea. It is an analogue for infinite, and as such is a word.
That said, it did start out as a nonsense word, but it's used enough in society currently to be recognized for what it means.
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my mouth is full of winsome lies -
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
I'm neither an English teacher or a major, but IMHO, it's a informal, hyperbolic neologism, a made-up word denoting an indefinite, arbitrarily large number; and, in that sense, similar to other (made-up) words ending in zillion, gajillion, jillion, etc.
Heh, an online search yields this result from Merriam-Webster. According to it, its origins are from 1977.
Yeah, so anyway, I think it's a word. (A silly-sounding one, too. >.>)
'Gazillion', as far as I have ever heard, is a made-up number for an uncountable sum. That means that it has an informal definition, but as a representation of a number I think it has to have a numerical meaning to be a true word. So I say that it is not a word. The names of numbers have meanings, and it is a necessary thing. 'Gazillion' means the same thing as 'umpteen', that is, nothing.
If you think it is a word, what do you say it means? If it is a countable number in your definition, how much is it?
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'Gazillion', as far as I have ever heard, is a made-up number for an uncountable sum. That means that it has an informal definition, but as a representation of a number I think it has to have a numerical meaning to be a true word. So I say that it is not a word. The names of numbers have meanings, and it is a necessary thing. 'Gazillion' means the same thing as 'umpteen', that is, nothing.
If you think it is a word, what do you say it means? If it is a countable number in your definition, how much is it?
What? So there's no such thing as a word with an abstract meaning?
Is "infinity" a word? Is "truth" a word? Is "love" a word?
Of course "gazillion" is a word. Notice how every poster in this thread has understood exactly what the OP meant by it? That's what makes something a word.
Yes "gazzilion" is a word. Every year new words are added to the dictionary, and I'm positive "gazzilion" has. If you think it ain't than plz tell me why this number ain't a word.
I would not agree that "gazillion" falls under the same category as slang. Slang is jargon used by a specific clique or group of people. There is a strong emphasis on "exclusiveness" and a form of lower-class "elitism". Slang creates a divide between users and ordinary people. On the other hand, there is no such intention behind "gazillion". It is widely recognized and used by people of all socioeconomic statuses and races. In fact, "gazillion" is so widespread that its become rather "classical", at least in the modern sense. This acknowledgment should be enough for "gazillion" to be considered a word.
I believe the only reason people disregard gazillion as a word is because of humorous implications. Some people believe that words are characterized by a degree of severity, even if the bar is very low. However, gazillion goes against seriousness completely and so people will refuse to recognize its status. This idea is quite outdated. Modern society has taken a step back from this value.
I would also like to point out that "gazillion" is timeless and not just a fad. It holds none of the popular culture of modernism associated with words such as "hot". It is when the modernity fades out that words like "cool" are eventually rotated out. Gazillion has a long future ahead of it and, even if it isn't a word, it will come to be one sometime in its life.
If this is for linguistics, there's one objectively correct answer to this, and that's that "gazillion" is a word. Native English speakers use it, therefore, it is a legitimate English word. The fact that dictionaries recognize it is just gravy.
I did not say that abstract things could not be words. I believe that some things should have concrete meanings, and that the words that describe numbers are one of those things.
I should clarify that I don't think that it can be argued- at least not well- that 'gazillion' is not a word in any sense. I just don't see it as a true word because it is a 'number' that is not a number.
I would go further in saying that if the word was 'Ga-bunches' that I would not take issue with it for the purpose of this discussion. The fact that it implies that it is a number by word structure is damning in my way of looking at it.
@Magus-
Saying that something is a word because it is an utterance that many people understand seems far fetched. I have heard my roommate in the kitchen go 'ARRRGH!' and everyone in earshot knew that meant to get the bandages. That does not make 'ARRRGH' a word. You and I and a couple of friends may assign a definition for 'Gargoochoo', and may even get ten other people to agree and use it, but I don't think that that makes it a word.
@Undedragolord-
I think this 'number' is not a word because it is not an actual number. The counter to this argument would be to tell me how much it is. I would consider giving you a gazillion pennies for the service.:D
EDIT- I have to say that I find murielwasser's argument hard to refute. Broad as all get out, but hard to refute nonetheless.
I did not say that abstract things could not be words. I believe that some things should have concrete meanings, and that the words that describe numbers are one of those things.
What do the words "some" "many" and "few" mean then? They are all indicative of numerical information, and most English speakers will agree that "some" is more than a "few" but less than "many". However, there is no specific definition of any of those words.
This debate, like many others, is either solved immediately upon declaration of definition, or becomes a debate of the merits of proposed definitions. So, I'd like to hear a clear definition of "word" as used in the OP by both sides.
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My anecdotal evidence disagrees with yours! EXPLAIN THAT!
Personally for me - when people were asking about the "proper word" bit, as an ex-HR rep it taints a lot of my opinions on things - to me, I consider a "proper word" to be something that you can use in a research finding, resume, or other high profile writing and still be considered seriously.
"Gazillion" does not meet that criteria, much like "ain't", "et" and other dictionary-approved words - I cannot see someone using it in one of those mediums and be well received.
Simply on the grounds that everyone knows what's implied by someone when they say 'Gazillion' I say that gives it word status.
In Scrabble my house rules include allowing to play words that don't appear in the dictionary so long as you can make an argument that it is used in society and a vast majority of people know the meaning. Despite not being officially acknowledged as a word, I would definitely allow it.
As for my own interpretation of the word I see at least the following two definitions:
1.) An arbitrarily large number. For example: We should herd a gazillion rabbits. We don't know how many we will herd, but we know it'll be a lot.
2.) A defined number which is unknown, so you say gazillion. For example I could say that the guy who won a cheeseburger eating contest ate a gazillion cheeseburgers. We don't know how many cheeseburger he ate, but we know that there is a number tied to it.
"Gazillion" does not meet that criteria, much like "ain't", "et" and other dictionary-approved words - I cannot see someone using it in one of those mediums and be well received.
That is quite the narrow basis for your conclusion. There are a gazillion words that probably shouldn't find their way into the high-profile writing you talk about, particularly vulgarities. You seem to base your conclusion off how it would be perceived rather than its merits as a word. Actually, it seems as though the fact you acknowledge that it would elicit reactions from someone reading it implies that they would know what it means. As long as it has agreed upon definitions it should be fair game to be considered a 'word'.
Let me rephrase my thoughts on the subject then...
I do feel it fits the definition of a word - I personally consider the definition of a "word" to be arbitrarily large and empty in it's scope however, and if you narrow it's scope even slightly I'd toss it in the same bin as "dawg" and the like.
This debate, like many others, is either solved immediately upon declaration of definition, or becomes a debate of the merits of proposed definitions. So, I'd like to hear a clear definition of "word" as used in the OP by both sides.
I'm not going to define a word, because that would imply that it's the definition. As you pointed out, this debate is about proposing a definition and supporting it with merits.
Actually, I'll say that I think a word is a series of sounds or written symbols that correspond to a language (or multiple languages) wherein speakers of said language(s) can understand a similar meaning to these sounds/symbols which does not vary far from the intended meaning of the speaker/writer.
I'm not going to define a word, because that would imply that it's the definition. As you pointed out, this debate is about proposing a definition and supporting it with merits.
And if you don't define word, asking if something is a word is useless.
It's a phrase people use in speech as slang with no real meaning. Is that a word?
I mean, I voted "no" accidentally because I misread the question as "is it a number"?, which the answer certainly is no. But is it a word? I'm pretty sure it is.
And if you don't define word, asking if something is a word is useless.
It's a phrase people use in speech as slang with no real meaning. Is that a word?
I don't know, I'm asking you.
It's not useless, it's a way to get people to compare definitions and see whether their definitions hold as much water as they thought. I just want to see what people think, and why they think this way.
I did not say that abstract things could not be words. I believe that some things should have concrete meanings, and that the words that describe numbers are one of those things.
I should clarify that I don't think that it can be argued- at least not well- that 'gazillion' is not a word in any sense. I just don't see it as a true word because it is a 'number' that is not a number.
I would go further in saying that if the word was 'Ga-bunches' that I would not take issue with it for the purpose of this discussion. The fact that it implies that it is a number by word structure is damning in my way of looking at it.
Infinity is a word, right? Yet it is also a numeric object that is not a number...
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Before the mods lock this as spam, this is what my paper for Linguistics 101 is about, and trust me when I say this can become a heated debate.
I think it is a word. Any English majors/teachers think I'm wrong?
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"A sound or a combination of sounds, or its representation in writing or printing, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning and may consist of a single morpheme or of a combination of morphemes." Saying the word 'Gazillion' represents a number that is so large that you cannot fathom how large it is, and while it doesn't represent a specific thing it does represent a specific idea. It is an analogue for infinite, and as such is a word.
That said, it did start out as a nonsense word, but it's used enough in society currently to be recognized for what it means.
and eyes are full of death besides
but luckily the soul is wise -
it sees beyond my blindness and
forced failure makes a better guise,
so as i come again alive,
it feels like life's a decent plan
Heh, an online search yields this result from Merriam-Webster. According to it, its origins are from 1977.
Yeah, so anyway, I think it's a word. (A silly-sounding one, too. >.>)
What is there to a "word"? What is a "word"?
If you think it is a word, what do you say it means? If it is a countable number in your definition, how much is it?
The meaning is recognized by most people, so yes. I'd say it's a word.
What? So there's no such thing as a word with an abstract meaning?
Is "infinity" a word? Is "truth" a word? Is "love" a word?
Thanks to the [Æther] shop for the sig!
Sure someone can understand your intentions when you use it - but that doesn't make it a proper word.
Re: People misusing the term Vanilla to describe a flying, unleash (sometimes trample) critter.
This. This is exactly what my paper's about; what exactly is a "proper word"?
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Why not?
Firefox recognizes "gazillion" as a word, so why don't you?
edit:
Also, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gazillion
Slang and jargon are words. They may not be used by very many people, but they're still words.
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I believe the only reason people disregard gazillion as a word is because of humorous implications. Some people believe that words are characterized by a degree of severity, even if the bar is very low. However, gazillion goes against seriousness completely and so people will refuse to recognize its status. This idea is quite outdated. Modern society has taken a step back from this value.
I would also like to point out that "gazillion" is timeless and not just a fad. It holds none of the popular culture of modernism associated with words such as "hot". It is when the modernity fades out that words like "cool" are eventually rotated out. Gazillion has a long future ahead of it and, even if it isn't a word, it will come to be one sometime in its life.
I did not say that abstract things could not be words. I believe that some things should have concrete meanings, and that the words that describe numbers are one of those things.
I should clarify that I don't think that it can be argued- at least not well- that 'gazillion' is not a word in any sense. I just don't see it as a true word because it is a 'number' that is not a number.
I would go further in saying that if the word was 'Ga-bunches' that I would not take issue with it for the purpose of this discussion. The fact that it implies that it is a number by word structure is damning in my way of looking at it.
@Magus-
Saying that something is a word because it is an utterance that many people understand seems far fetched. I have heard my roommate in the kitchen go 'ARRRGH!' and everyone in earshot knew that meant to get the bandages. That does not make 'ARRRGH' a word. You and I and a couple of friends may assign a definition for 'Gargoochoo', and may even get ten other people to agree and use it, but I don't think that that makes it a word.
@Undedragolord-
I think this 'number' is not a word because it is not an actual number. The counter to this argument would be to tell me how much it is. I would consider giving you a gazillion pennies for the service.:D
EDIT- I have to say that I find murielwasser's argument hard to refute. Broad as all get out, but hard to refute nonetheless.
What do the words "some" "many" and "few" mean then? They are all indicative of numerical information, and most English speakers will agree that "some" is more than a "few" but less than "many". However, there is no specific definition of any of those words.
"Gazillion" does not meet that criteria, much like "ain't", "et" and other dictionary-approved words - I cannot see someone using it in one of those mediums and be well received.
Re: People misusing the term Vanilla to describe a flying, unleash (sometimes trample) critter.
In Scrabble my house rules include allowing to play words that don't appear in the dictionary so long as you can make an argument that it is used in society and a vast majority of people know the meaning. Despite not being officially acknowledged as a word, I would definitely allow it.
As for my own interpretation of the word I see at least the following two definitions:
1.) An arbitrarily large number. For example: We should herd a gazillion rabbits. We don't know how many we will herd, but we know it'll be a lot.
2.) A defined number which is unknown, so you say gazillion. For example I could say that the guy who won a cheeseburger eating contest ate a gazillion cheeseburgers. We don't know how many cheeseburger he ate, but we know that there is a number tied to it.
Or something like that.
That is quite the narrow basis for your conclusion. There are a gazillion words that probably shouldn't find their way into the high-profile writing you talk about, particularly vulgarities. You seem to base your conclusion off how it would be perceived rather than its merits as a word. Actually, it seems as though the fact you acknowledge that it would elicit reactions from someone reading it implies that they would know what it means. As long as it has agreed upon definitions it should be fair game to be considered a 'word'.
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I do feel it fits the definition of a word - I personally consider the definition of a "word" to be arbitrarily large and empty in it's scope however, and if you narrow it's scope even slightly I'd toss it in the same bin as "dawg" and the like.
Re: People misusing the term Vanilla to describe a flying, unleash (sometimes trample) critter.
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I'm not going to define a word, because that would imply that it's the definition. As you pointed out, this debate is about proposing a definition and supporting it with merits.
Actually, I'll say that I think a word is a series of sounds or written symbols that correspond to a language (or multiple languages) wherein speakers of said language(s) can understand a similar meaning to these sounds/symbols which does not vary far from the intended meaning of the speaker/writer.
Thanks to the [Æther] shop for the sig!
It's a made up slang for "a big number". It's like "umpteenth".
And if you don't define word, asking if something is a word is useless.
It's a phrase people use in speech as slang with no real meaning. Is that a word?
I mean, I voted "no" accidentally because I misread the question as "is it a number"?, which the answer certainly is no. But is it a word? I'm pretty sure it is.
It's not useless, it's a way to get people to compare definitions and see whether their definitions hold as much water as they thought. I just want to see what people think, and why they think this way.
Thanks to the [Æther] shop for the sig!
Infinity is a word, right? Yet it is also a numeric object that is not a number...