megaton

American  

[meg-uh-tuhn] / ˈmɛg əˌtʌn /

noun

1. one million tons.

2. an explosive force equal to that of one million tons of TNT, as that of atomic or hydrogen bombs. MT

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megaton British  

/ ˈmɛɡəˌtʌn, ˌmɛɡəˈtɒnɪk /

noun

1. one million tons

2.  mt.  an explosive power, esp of a nuclear weapon, equal to the power of one million tons of TNT

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• megatonic
  adjective
• multimegaton
  noun

Etymology

Origin of megaton

First recorded in 1950–55; mega- + ton ¹

Compare meaning

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

• megaton vs. kiloton

Example Sentences

We know because in 1965 an A-4 rolled off the USS Ticonderoga, leaving a bomb capable of 1 megaton yield at the bottom of the Philippine Sea, where it remains.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Most nuclear weapons today are variable-yield, or “dial-a-yield,” providing a set amount of explosive power that can range from fractions of a kiloton to multiples of a megaton.

From Scientific American • Mar. 10, 2022

There’s no clear Johnny Plumseed for Washington the way there is for California, where brothers Louis and Pierre Pellier are credited with using plum scions from France to kick-start the megaton California prune industry.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 10, 2021

In 1968, the United States exploded beneath the Nevada desert a 1.3 megaton nuclear device called “Boxcar.”

From Washington Times • Apr. 26, 2021

Then came Livermore’s turn, with a device code-named Morgen- stern that was expected to yield one megaton.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik