in round numbers
Preserved but no longer current.
In whole numbers, with- out regarding the fractions. Thus we say the population of the British Isles in 1931 was forty-nine millions, in round numbers, and that of Greater London eight millions. The idea is that what is round is whole or perfect, and, of course, fractions, being broken num- bers, cannot belong thereto.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “in round numbers” mean?
In whole numbers, with- out regarding the fractions. Thus we say the population of the British Isles in 1931 was forty-nine millions, in round numbers, and that of Greater London eight millions. The idea is that what is round is whole or perfect, and, of course, fractions, being broken num- bers, cannot belong thereto.
Is “in round numbers” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.