Nonillion vs. Octillion — What's the Difference?

The cardinal number equal to 1030.

The cardinal number that is equal to 1027.

Chiefly British The cardinal number equal to 1054.

Chiefly British The cardinal number that is equal to 1048.

10³⁰.

A thousand trillion trillion, a billion billion billion: 1 followed by 27 zeros, 10²⁷.

(dated British & Australian, long scale) 10⁵⁴.

A trillion quintillion: 1 followed by 48 zeros, 10⁴⁸.

(hyperbole) An unspecified very large number.

According to the French method of numeration (which method is followed also in the United States) the number expressed by a unit with twenty-seven ciphers annexed. According to the English method, the number expressed by a unit with forty-eight ciphers annexed. See Numeration.

According to the French and American notation, a thousand octillions, or a unit with thirty ciphers annexed; according to the English notation, a million octillions, or a unit with fifty-four ciphers annexed. See the Note under Numeration.