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The Figurative Use of Mecca
Mecca is one of a number of place names which have taken on figurative meanings over time. This city in Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Muhammad and the site which Muslims must attempt to visit on a pilgrimage; from its role as a religious destination Mecca began to be used in the early 19th century (sometimes capitalized, and sometimes not) in a non-religious sense. Other locations (some of which are fictional) that have taken on this kind of extended meaning are Eden, Camelot, and Wall Street.
Examples of mecca in a Sentence
Victoria Bousis, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2026
That’s why the famed Trout Lily Trail in the West Palisades section of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Atlanta has become a spring mecca for many of us wildflower lovers.
—Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Over the decades, the city has staged World Cup matches and has since become an international soccer mecca.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
Next door at the Locust, James Cook discusses Cafe des Artistes, Ocean Drive’s newest mecca for the young and stylish.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mecca
Cite this Entry
“Mecca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mecca. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mecca
noun
named for Mecca, city in Arabia, the birthplace of Muhammad and the goal of Muslim pilgrimages
