order of magnitude

noun phrase

: a range of magnitude extending from some value to ten times that value

Examples of order of magnitude in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And of course vaccines are an order of magnitude above in health need. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025 The estimates differed by an order of magnitude, jumping to $3 trillion from $367 billion. Tobias Burns, The Hill, 5 Feb. 2025 Rogers says Mill food recyclers are about an order of magnitude more efficient at lowering emissions than retrofitting an office with LED lighting. Katie Fehrenbacher, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025 Why Measles Is a Sentinel for Low Vaccination Rates Measles is an order of magnitude more contagious than seasonal influenza. Ripley Cleghorn, Scientific American, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for order of magnitude

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of order of magnitude was in 1875

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Order of magnitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/order%20of%20magnitude. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!