What does "mecca" mean?
Any place considered to be a very important place to visit by people with a particular interest.
Mecca
/ˈmɛkə/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any place considered to be a very important place to visit by people with a particular interest.
- Grammar: mecca is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: benchmark, center, epicenter, focal point.
- Useful contrasts: marginal case, outlier, peripheral site.
- Usage evidence: Muslims always pray facing toward Mecca.
How to use "mecca"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mecca" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mecca" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mecca" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mecca" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mecca" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "benchmark" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mecca", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any place considered to be a very important place to visit by people with a particular interest. figuratively, offensive, sometimes
"It was consequently the “Mecca,” the “Delphic Oracle,” the “Vale of Egeria,” to which all studious pilgrims should resort to drink of the pure springs of knowledge; […]"
- 2 Alternative form of Mecca. alt-of, alternative
- 3 a place that attracts many visitors wordnet
- 4 Alternative form of Mecca.; ; a place to which a group of people (for example shoppers) are drawn. figuratively, offensive, sometimes
"But Seed to Table – which has sprawling spreads of produce, a food court with restaurants and kiosks, and a two-story wine market and tasting room – has become a MAGA mecca, many say, a shrine to former President Donald Trump and Trumpism."
Proper Noun
- 1 A province of Saudi Arabia. proscribed, sometimes
- 2 A large city, the provincial capital of Mecca Province in the in the Hejaz region, Saudi Arabia, the holiest place in Islam, location of the sacred Ka'ba, and to which Muslims are required to make a hajj at least once in their lifetime, if possible. proscribed, sometimes
- 3 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Riverside County, California.
- 4 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Wabash Township, Parke County, Indiana.
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Clinton County, Missouri.
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in the United States:; A township and unincorporated community in Trumbull County, Ohio.
- 7 A surname.
"MR. HOWE: I would like to ask Mr. Mecca this question : does he think there would be substantial duplication between the agency that he is suggesting, and the current Governors' Committees on Employment of the Handicapped. MR. MECCA: […]"
- 8 A unisex given name, mostly borne by women. uncommon
"Mrs. Mecca Marie Varney and son are successful lecturers and debaters on various topics of current interest, such as suffrage, etc. Her home is in Paw Paw, Mich. Her lectures are managed by her husband, Charles E. Varney."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Muslims always pray facing toward Mecca."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mecca"?
Common synonyms include: benchmark, center, epicenter, focal point, holy city, magnet.
How do you use "mecca" in a sentence?
Muslims always pray facing toward Mecca.
How do you pronounce "mecca"?
Pronounced /ˈmɛkə/.
Etymology
From Arabic مَكَّة (Makka) of uncertain etymology. In American place names, in reference to the Arabian city.