View synonyms for mega-

mega-

variant of megalo- ( megalith ); also the initial element in units of measure that are equal to one million of the units denoted by the base word ( megahertz ). : M

mega-

combining_form

denoting 10 ⁶ M
megawatt
(in computer technology) denoting 2 ²⁰(1 048 576)
megabyte
large or great
megalith
informal.
great in importance or amount
megastar

mega

/ ˈmɛɡə /

adjective

slang.
extremely good, great, or successful

mega–

A prefix that means:
Large, as in megadose, a large dose.
One million, as in megahertz, one million hertz.
2 ²⁰ (that is, 1,048,576), which is the power of 2 closest to a million, as in megabyte.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of mega-¹

Combining form representing Greek mégas large, great

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Word History and Origins

Origin of mega-¹

from Greek megas huge, powerful

Origin of mega-²

C20: probably independent use of mega-

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Example Sentences

We have reached a tipping point where mega donors completely dominate the landscape.

From The Daily Beast

And who can blame them for feeling disenfranchised when they see their efforts dwarfed by the mega donors.

From The Daily Beast

Art Basel itself is but the center of a cluster of mega-shows taking place in Miami this week.

From The Daily Beast

The FSLN-controlled legislative assembly approved the mega-project under a cloud of secrecy in a record seven days.

From The Daily Beast

Mary Matalin once dubbed him a “mega-multimedia Wunderkind!”

From The Daily Beast

Correspondingly, the merozoites, to which they give rise, are also different (micro-and mega-merozoites).

From Project Gutenberg

As this letter A is formed by a larger aperture than the former one, it may be called A mega.

From Project Gutenberg

I call him Mega-ergaton docile, 'the teachable great-worker.'

From Project Gutenberg

They foresaw a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural socialist mega-state.

From Project Gutenberg

The prime example is Japan, which constructed its whole mega-economy on these bases.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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Words That Use Mega-

What does mega- mean?

Mega- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “large, great, grand, abnormally large.” It is used in many scientific and medical terms.

In science, mega- is specifically used as a prefix in units of measure equaling a factor of “one million.” It’s abbreviation is M. So, a megawatt (MW) is one million watts.

Mega- comes from the Greek mégas, meaning “large” or “great.”

What are variants of mega-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, mega- becomes meg-, as in megohm.

Mega- is a variant of megalo- and megal-, as in megalomania and megalopsia. Learn more about their specific applications in our Words That Use articles.

Examples of mega-

A word you may have encountered that features the combining form mega- is megalith, “a stone of great size, especially in ancient construction work, as the Cyclopean masonry, or in prehistoric Neolithic remains, as dolmens or menhirs.” Some of the most well-known megaliths in the world can be found at Stonehenge.

The mega- part of the word means “large,” as we know. The second part of the word, -lith, means “stone,” from the Greek líthos. Megalith literally translates to “large stone.”

What are some words that use the combining form mega-?

What are some other forms that mega- may be commonly confused with?

macro-
neg-

Not every word that begins with the exact letters mega- or meg- is necessarily using the combining form mega- to denote “large,” e.g., megillah, megilp, or megass. Learn where these words come from and what they mean at our entries.

Break it down!

The combining form -phyll means “leaf.” What does megaphyll, which ferns and seed plants produce, literally translate to?

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