megaphone

American  

[meg-uh-fohn] / ˈmɛg əˌfoʊn /

noun

megaphones plural

1. a cone-shaped device for magnifying or directing the voice, chiefly used in addressing a large audience out of doors or in calling to someone at a distance.

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verb (used with or without object)

megaphoned, megaphoning

1. to transmit or speak through or as if through a megaphone.

megaphone British  

/ ˌmɛɡəˈfɒnɪk, ˈmɛɡəˌfəʊn /

noun

1. a funnel-shaped instrument used to amplify the voice See also loud-hailer

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• megaphonic
  adjective
• megaphonically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• megaphones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of megaphone

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; mega- + -phone

Compare meaning

How does megaphone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• bullhorn vs. megaphone

Explanation

A megaphone is a cone-shaped amplifier you can use to make your voice louder. You can bring a megaphone to a football game, but leave it at home if you are headed to a dinner party. Megaphones are useful, portable devices for someone who's guiding a group of protesters, for a movie director who's working with a lot of actors on a large set, or for cheerleaders who want their voices to carry over the roar of a crowd of football fans. Thomas Edison invented the megaphone, and he probably named it too: it combines the Greek megas, "great," with phone, "voice."

Example Sentences

As her fellow lawmakers cast the last votes to pass the map, Nixon yelled into a hot pink megaphone, accusing her fellow lawmakers of violating the state constitution.

From Salon • Jun. 19, 2026

When he arrived at around 8:30 a.m., a police officer was on a megaphone announcing that the shop wouldn’t be opening, that no watches would be sold, and requesting that the crowd disperse.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

As the festival has grown, so too has the allure for big brands like Guess, Rivian, Soho House and Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila looking to capitalize on Coachella as a marketing megaphone.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

"Any form of sleep or rest throughout the night was impossible due to festival noise / loud techno singing / megaphone announcements," explained a post on the Morrissey Central website.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

I took a megaphone to the end of my pier and tried to protest against this foolishness, but the owners either did not hear or did not know or did not care.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• bullhorn
• public address system