mecca

noun

mec·​ca ˈme-kə 

variants often Mecca

: a place regarded as a center for a specified group, activity, or interest

a mecca for shoppers

Synonyms of mecca

• center
• hub
• capital
• heart
• focus

Examples of mecca in a Sentence

The valley is a mecca for wine lovers.

The town has become a mecca for tourists.

Recent Examples on the Web

With one day left to declare candidacy in the race for Los Angeles mayor, all eyes are on Rick Caruso, the billionaire developer behind outdoor shopping meccas like The Grove. —Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026

Today, the Los Cabos area and neighboring East Cape have emerged a wellness mecca. —Jen Murphy, Outside, 1 Feb. 2026

Becoming a tourism mecca was years in the making. —Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026

The Lane Bryant store is now gone, the shopping center on the far west side of Tinley Park has blossomed and life in the southwest suburb now known as an entertainment mecca goes on. —Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Mecca, Saudi Arabia, a destination of pilgrims in the Islamic world

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mecca

• caeca
• cheka
• decca
• theca
• areca
• azteca

Kids Definition

mecca

noun

mec·​ca ˈmek-ə 

often capitalized

: a place regarded as a center for a specified group, activity, or interest

a mecca for tourists

Etymology

named for Mecca, city in Arabia, the birthplace of Muhammad and the goal of Muslim pilgrimages

Geographical Definition

Mecca

geographical name

Mec·​ca ˈme-kə 

variants or Arabic Makkah

ˈmä-kə 

holy city in western Saudi Arabia population 1,294,106

Note: Mecca is the chief pilgrimage destination for Muslims and the capital of Hejaz.

Meccan

ˈme-kən 

adjective or noun