megadeath

[ meg-uh-deth ]

/ ˈmɛg əˌdɛθ /

noun

a unit of one million deaths: used in estimating or predicting the fatalities that would occur in a nuclear war.

Nearby words

megacorporation, megacycle, megacystic syndrome, megacystis, megadeal, megadeath, megadont, megadontia, megadontism, megadose, megaelectron volt

Origin of megadeath

First recorded in 1950–55; mega- + death

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for megadeath

megadeath

/ (ˈmɛɡəˌdɛθ) /

noun

the death of a million people, esp in a nuclear war or attack

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for megadeath

megadeath

1953, from mega- in scientific sense (one million) + death (n.). The death of one million persons, as a measure of the effectiveness of nuclear weapons. The resulting pile of dead bodies would be a megacorpse, according to writings on the topic.