megalopolis

[meg-uh-lop-uh-lis]

noun

1. a very large city.

2. an urban region, especially one consisting of several large cities and suburbs that adjoin each other.

megalopolis

/ ˌmɛɡələˈpɒlɪtən, ˌmɛɡəˈlɒpəlɪs /

noun

1. an urban complex, usually comprising several large towns

megalopolis

1. A vast stretch of developed industrial urban area, such as the East Coast of the United States from Boston to Washington, D.C., or the Ruhr Valley in Germany. Megalopolis is from Greek words meaning “great city.”

Other Word Forms

• megalopolitan adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of megalopolis¹

First recorded in 1825–35; megalo- + polis

Word History and Origins

Origin of megalopolis¹

C20: _megalo- + Greek polis city

Related Words

• capital 
• center 
• downtown 
• metropolis 
• municipality 
• place 
• port