megacity
Ten-million-person urban area
A megacity is an extremely large urban area, typically defined as having a population of ten million or more.
The term emphasizes scale beyond ordinary cities: Tokyo, Delhi, and São Paulo are among the world's largest megacities.
Megacity often appears in discussions of urbanization, infrastructure challenges, and global development.
Filled beyond capacity
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
- densityMass-to-volume ratio
- millionsNumbers in seven figures
- inhabitantsPermanent occupants of place
residents · teeming · bustling · crowds · packed · masses · multitude · cramped
Extremely tall urban buildings
- highriseMultistory urban building
- towersTall vertical structures
- cityscapeView of urban architecture
- panoramaUnobstructed wide-angle view
downtown · silhouette · landmark · rooftops · vista · horizon · elevation · profile
Increase in scope
- suburbsResidential areas outside cities
- outskirtsOuter parts of town
- conurbationMerged continuous urban area
- agglomerationCollected mass of parts
periphery · commuter · development · zoning · infrastructure · belt · edge · districts
State of varied elements
- multiculturalIncluding multiple ethnic traditions
- melting-potFusion of diverse cultures
- expatriatesPeople living outside homeland
- polyglotOne knowing many languages
fusion · intercultural · plurality · globalization · transnational · Chinatown · diaspora · immigration
overcrowded
Filled beyond capacity
- congestionExcessive accumulation causing blockage
- densityMass-to-volume ratio
- millionsNumbers in seven figures
inhabitants · residents · teeming · bustling · crowds · packed · masses · multitude · cramped · populace
skyscrapers
Extremely tall urban buildings
panorama · downtown · silhouette · landmark · rooftops · vista · horizon · elevation · profile · backdrop
expansion
Increase in scope
- suburbsResidential areas outside cities
- outskirtsOuter parts of town
- conurbationMerged continuous urban area
agglomeration · periphery · commuter · development · zoning · infrastructure · belt · edge · districts · growth
diversity
State of varied elements
- multiculturalIncluding multiple ethnic traditions
- melting-potFusion of diverse cultures
- expatriatesPeople living outside homeland
polyglot · fusion · intercultural · plurality · globalization · transnational · Chinatown · diaspora · immigration
municipality
Local governing district
- boroughAdministrative town or district
- districtBounded administrative area
- wardProtected person; division
precinct · administration · mayor · planning · services · utilities · sanitation · transit · housing · regulation
nexus
Connecting central point
commerce · finance · headquarters · trade · connectivity · airport · seaport · logistics · CBD
- city termsmayor, zoning laws, urban sprawl, public works, incorporation
- city typescapital, metropolis, suburb, resort town, college town
- Mega- Wordsmegahertz, megaton, megapixel, megastore, megaplex
- megacitiesTokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Delhi, Mumbai
- Sci-Fi Settingsspace station, spaceship, starship, alien planet, moon base
- settlementsvillage, cities, hamlet, towns, town
megacityhamlet
Tiny rural settlement
village · small town · one-horse town · crossroads · outpost
megacitycountryside
Rural area beyond towns
rural area · hinterland · farmland · backcountry · outback
megacityhamlet
Tiny rural settlement
remote outpost · small community · tribal settlement · commune · hermitage