AI buzzword dictionary
What is Token?
A small chunk of text — often part of a word — that language models read and write.
What this actually means
Models do not see whole words. They split text into tokens: common words may be one token, longer or rarer words several.
Tokens matter because tools measure limits and prices in them. As a rough guide in English, 100 tokens is about 75 words.
Example
'Unbelievable' might be split into 'Un', 'believ' and 'able' — three tokens for one word.
Where you may meet it
Pricing pages for AI services, usage limits, and error messages such as 'input too long'.
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026