dozen

UK: /ˈdʌz^ən/ US: /ˈdʌzən/ ,(n., adj. duz′ən; v. dō′zən)

Inflections of 'dozen' (n):

dozens

npl (When not preceded by a number—e.g. "Dozens of people came to the meeting.")

dozen

npl (When preceded by a number—e.g. "I counted the eggs and there were two dozen of them.")

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

doz•en¹ /ˈdʌzən/   n., pl. doz•ens, (as after a numeral) doz•en, adj. 
n. 

1. a group of 12:
   [countable] I'll have a dozen eggs.
   [after a number or measurement word* no plural]
   I'll have two dozen eggs.

adj. 

2. containing 12 parts.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

doz•en¹  (duz′ən), n., pl. doz•ens, (as after a numeral) doz•en, adj. 
n. 

1. a group of 12.
2. Slang Terms the dozens, a ritualized game typically engaged in by two persons each of whom attempts to outdo the other in insults directed against members of the other's family (usually used in the phrase play the dozens).

adj. 

3. twelve.

• Latin -āna) -an
• Latin duodecim) + -aine (
• Old French do(u)zaine, equivalent. to do(u)ze (
• Middle English dozeine 1250–1300

doz•en²  (dō′zən), v.t. [Scot.]

1. Scottish Terms to stun.

• 1325–75; Middle English (Scots); see doze¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dozen / ˈdʌz^ən/ determiner

1. preceded by a or a numeral: twelve or a group of twelve

noun (dozens, dozen)

1. by the dozen ⇒ in large quantities
2. See baker's dozen
3. talk nineteen to the dozen ⇒ to talk without stopping

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French douzaine, from douze twelve, from Latin duodecim, from duo two + decem ten

ˈdozenth adjective