mecca

noun, often capitalized

mec·ca | \ˈme-kə

Definition of mecca

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

Mecca

geographical name

Mec·ca | \ˈme-kə

variants: or Arabic Makkah \ˈmä-kə

Definition of Mecca (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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

Other Words from mecca Synonyms The Figurative Use of Mecca More Example Sentences Learn More about mecca

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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

Noun

The valley is a mecca for wine lovers. The town has become a mecca for tourists.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Los Angeles: Dover Street Market Dover Street Market (aka London's multi-brand fashion mecca) will soon be opening its second U.S. location in Los Angeles. — Bridget Hallinan, Condé Nast Traveler, "5 Fall Store Openings We're Excited About," 21 Sep. 2018 But not because this is a fancy, sprawling mecca in the wide-open suburbs. — Maria Panaritis, Philly.com, "St. Denis Fun Fair: I dare you to say this Havertown tradition, now 50, will ever die. | Maria Panaritis," 4 May 2018 For lovers of quirk, this pastel masterpiece is your mecca. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Whimsical purple Victorian on the market for $1.3M," 3 May 2018 David Strettell of Dashwood Books, the below-ground mecca for art-loving bibliophiles, was tapped to curate Gucci’s new bolthole for bookworms. — Vogue, "Backing Print: Gucci Wooster Opens a Bookstore Curated by Dashwood Books," 20 Nov. 2018 Macau is a gambling mecca, with five times more revenue than Las Vegas. — Ese Erheriene, WSJ, "Beijing’s Top Official in Macau Dies in a Fall," 21 Oct. 2018 Wine lovers with a penchant for history should then take the 15-minute drive to Georgia’s winemaking mecca, Alaverdi Monastery, which just celebrated its 1,017th—no, that’s not a typo—vintage. — Benjamin Kemper, Condé Nast Traveler, "A Guide to Georgian Wine Country," 5 Sep. 2018 It was built in the 1930s as car travel started to become popular, luring people to the desert gaming mecca. — Jay Jones, latimes.com, "Las Vegas' past, from a classic chapel to vintage railroad cars, on display at little-known museum," 5 July 2018 Neither state had been considered a mecca for gun control before. — Mike Ward, San Antonio Express-News, "Abbott on narrow path to school safety," 31 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mecca.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.