megalopolis
Americannoun
-
a very large city.
-
an urban region, especially one consisting of several large cities and suburbs that adjoin each other.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of megalopolis
Explanation
Enormous and dense with people, a megalopolis is a huge city, series of nearby cities, or part of an even bigger city. Mumbai is a megalopolis, but Walla Walla, Washington is not. Historians and geographers generally use the word megalopolis when they're talking about a chain of cities whose total population exceeds ten million, like the ones dotting the East Coast of the United States. The region made up of the cities between Boston and Washington, D.C. is one well-known megalopolis. The Greek suffix polis means city — think metropolis — and the prefix megas means "great."
Vocabulary lists containing megalopolis
Human Geography - Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The United States
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Human Geography - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis has been withdrawn by Lionsgate because the clip included fabricated quotes from real film critics about the filmmaker’s previous works.
From BBC • Aug. 22, 2024
This is not the first controversy to surround the release of "Megalopolis."
From Salon • Aug. 21, 2024
The Megalopolis plain has for decades been mined for coal to supply a local power plant.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 2, 2023
In response, the government has vowed to transform the hardest-hit areas, including Western Macedonia and Megalopolis, a coal town in the Peloponnese, into sites where new types of work would emerge.
From New York Times • Oct. 29, 2021
He died in 213, and just about this time Philopœmen of Megalopolis returned from serving in the Cretan army to fight for his country.
From Aunt Charlotte's Stories of Greek History by Yonge, Charlotte Mary
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
