Mercury on the Move

Asking Questions and Just Plain Living in Vermont

Bazillion Versus Gajillion

Posted by mattbeagle on February 25, 2009

So which is bigger, a bazillion or a gajillion?  I vote for a bazillion but what do I look like?  A mathematician?  I feel like we use superlatives so often that they often have no meaning.  So really, what the hell difference does it make?

One of my least favorite superlatives is “extreme.”  While it isn’t as popular as it used to be, there are approximately a gajillion things out there labeled “extreme.”  There are fast food meals, frozen pizzas, video games, even underwear (“extreme comfort”).  I think it is a little ridiculous.  Hey, some marketer says, let’s hop on the extreme bandwagon.  Extreme sells.

I finally had my fill of extreme when I saw an advertisement (on a restroom wall poster of all places) for “Extreme” truck bed liners.  These were spray on liners for the beds of pickup trucks.  Extreme?  I mean, I can see how a climb up a remote rugged peak can be extreme.  I can see how an athletic event can be extreme (run across the Sahara anyone?).  I can even see how a hot pepper can be labeled extreme.  But a spray on truck bed liner?  That went too far.

So I am in pursuit of some answers.  Maybe you can help me out.  Which is bigger?  I really want to know what you think.  Let’s give some meaning to these terms.   I don’t need a number.  I know they aren’t real numbers.  I just need an answer:  Which do you think is bigger and why?

If I get at least 100 answers in the comments I will send a rubberized foam velociraptor to the best answer.  An extreme toy, if you will.  I look forward to hearing what you think.

4 Responses to “Bazillion Versus Gajillion”

  1. Nadine Bourgault said

    Gaxillion, of course, is larger. After all, G comes after B in the alphabet, dummy. Doesn’t everyone know that is how numbers are named? Rather extreme, if you know what I mean!

  2. Drea Kane said

    Bazillion came first. When bazillion was no longer enough, someone came up with gajillion to indicate even more. Therefore, gajillion is definitely worth more.

  3. Laurie Grigg said

    Drew says neither because they don’t exist (nerdy science teacher). I say gajillion as does Drew’s dad, Hal Lamb. Question is what will come after a gajillion? gigatrillion?

  4. Sugar said

    A Gajillion because it has at least been added to the U.S. System of measurment, which may also explain why we havent yet adopted the metric system.

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