Megalopolis: meaning, definitions and examples

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megalopolis

 

[ ˌmeɡəˈlɑːplɪs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

urban

A very large, heavily populated city or urban complex, typically an aggregation of several cities and towns.

Synonyms

city, metropolis, urban area.

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Word Description / Examples
megalopolis

A megalopolis is best used when describing an extensive, heavily populated, and densely developed collection of cities or urban areas that have grown together. It typically refers to a region covering multiple metropolitan areas.

  • The Northeast megalopolis in the United States stretches from Boston to Washington D.C.
  • China's Pearl River Delta is one of the largest megalopolises in the world.
metropolis

A metropolis is a large, bustling city that is significant economically, culturally, and politically. It often serves as a central hub for a larger region or country.

  • Paris is a metropolis known for its culture and history.
  • Tokyo is a major metropolis in Japan and a global financial center.
city

Use 'city' for a relatively large town or an urban area with significant population size, infrastructure, and administrative importance. It is commonly used in day-to-day speech.

  • New York City is famous for its skyline.
  • I moved to the city for better job opportunities.
urban area

This term is used to describe a region characterized by high population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. It can refer to both cities and large towns as well as the surrounding areas.

  • The urban area around Los Angeles includes several other smaller cities.
  • Public transportation is more efficient in urban areas compared to rural areas.

Examples of usage

  • The megalopolis of Tokyo-Yokohama is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
  • The Northeast megalopolis in the United States includes cities such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.

Translations

Translations of the word "megalopolis" in other languages:

🇵🇹 megalópole

🇮🇳 महानगर

🇩🇪 Megalopolis

🇮🇩 megalopolis

🇺🇦 мегаполіс

🇵🇱 megapolis

🇯🇵 メガロポリス

🇫🇷 mégalopole

🇪🇸 megalópolis

🇹🇷 megapol

🇰🇷 메가로폴리스

🇸🇦 ميغالوبوليس

🇨🇿 megapolis

🇸🇰 megapolis

🇨🇳 大都市

🇸🇮 megapolis

🇮🇸 stórborg

🇰🇿 мегаполис

🇬🇪 მეგაპოლისი

🇦🇿 meqapolis

🇲🇽 megápolis

Etymology

The term 'megalopolis' originated in ancient Greece, where it referred to a very large city or urban area. The modern usage of the word evolved to describe densely populated urban regions that consist of multiple interconnected cities and towns. The concept of megalopolis highlights the phenomenon of urban sprawl and the interconnectedness of metropolitan areas.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,491, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.