macroscopic

American  

[mak-ruh-skop-ik] / ˌmæk rəˈskɒp ɪk /

Also macroscopical

adjective

1. visible to the naked eye.

2. pertaining to large units; comprehensive.

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macroscopic British  

/ ˌməkrəʊˈskɒpɪk /

adjective

1. large enough to be visible to the naked eye Compare microscopic

2. comprehensive; concerned with large units

3. physics capable of being described by the statistical properties of a large number of parts

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Other Word Forms

• macroscopically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of macroscopic

First recorded in 1870–75; macro- + -scope + -ic

Explanation

Macroscopic things are large enough to be seen without using a microscope. Many creatures, from ants to elephants, are macroscopic. Macroscopic is the opposite of microscopic, which describes anything you need a microscope to see. A scientist might use macroscopic to talk about the regular view of an object, when you're looking at it unaided by any magnification device. The macroscopic view of a leaf is quite different from the microscopic, which reveals the molecules that comprise it. Macro- means "large," from the Greek root makros, "long or large."

Example Sentences

This compact book weaves together topics including the microscopic quantum tunneling required for nuclear fusion and the macroscopic geometry of spacetime.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

In the words of the committee, "the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit".

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2025

It requires the use of macroscopic voltage measurement, which looks at the overall voltage changes across a material.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2024

Being able to control the macroscopic twist between layers allows for more control over the properties of the entire system.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2024

One can therefore ask: does quantum theory allow time travel on a macroscopic scale, which people could use?

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking