macro
adjective
very large in scale, scope, or capability.
macro
1 American
[mak-roh]
/ ˈmæk roʊ /
adjective
-
very large in scale, scope, or capability.
-
of or relating to macroeconomics.
noun
macros
plural
-
anything very large in scale, scope, or capability.
-
Photography. a macro lens.
-
Also called macroinstruction. Computers. an instruction that represents a sequence of instructions in abbreviated form.
macro-
2
American
especially before a vowel,
macr-.
macro-
1
British
combining form
-
large, long, or great in size or duration
macroscopic
-
(in pathology) indicating abnormal enlargement or overdevelopment Compare micro-
macrocyte
-
producing larger than life images
macrophotography
macro
2
British
/ ˈmækrəʊ /
noun
-
a macro lens
-
Also: macro instruction. a single computer instruction that initiates a set of instructions to perform a specific task
macro–
Scientific
Usage
What does macro- mean? Macro- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “large; long; great; excessive.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology. Macro- comes from Greek makrós, meaning “long.” The Latin translation of makrós is longus, also meaning “long,” which is the source of terms such as longanimity and longitude. To learn more, check out our entries for both words. What are variants of macro-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, macro- becomes macr-, as in macrencephaly. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about macr-.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of macro1
Independent use of macro-, taken as an adjective, or by shortening of words with macro- as initial element
Origin of macro-2
< Greek makro-, combining form of makrós long; cognate with Latin macer lean; see meager
Explanation
Anything macro is enlarged or on a very large scale. A macro perspective on life is one that stands back and takes in the entirety of experience, rather than examining smaller details up close. While two political parties might argue over specifics, a political analyst might claim that on a macro (or large-scale) level, their policies and positions are essentially the same. A macro lens for a camera, however, does examine small details, but does it by blowing them up into something large. With a macro lens, you can photograph a butterfly or a flower and capture every last tiny element on film. Macro has a Greek root, makros, "long or large."
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.
Still, the conflict in the Middle East has provided a boost to parts of German manufacturing, according to Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026
The view that the Bank of Japan is falling behind the curve in raising rates is also pressuring the currency, said Goh, Eastspring’s head of macro and thematics, Asian fixed income.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
Michael Kramer is the founder of Mott Capital Management and a long-only investor focused on macro themes.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
“We expect Q2 reports will reveal another quarter of strong earnings growth, supported by a solid macro backdrop and the ongoing AI investment boom,” Snider wrote in a note on Monday.
From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026
He had no choice: Among the people who gave him money there was pretty obviously a built-in skepticism of so-called macro thinking.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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.
