mecca

play

noun, often capitalized mec·ca \ ˈme-kə \

Definition of mecca

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

a mecca for shoppers

See mecca defined for English-language learners

See mecca defined for kids

Examples of mecca in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of mecca from the Web

Alicia Yoon, who founded beauty mecca Peach & Lily, told Teen Vogue that the secret is in the acids in the product, which are combined for a super potent effect.

— ella ceron, Teen Vogue, "Zendaya Tried a Baby Foot Peel, and It Totally Freaked Her Out," 28 Aug. 2017
Today, the area is a mecca for Americana shopping, chock full of one-of-a-kind, antique and vintage merchandise.

— cynthia billhartz gregorian, kansascity, "Your updated guide to West Bottoms flea markets: Vendors, food, DIY classes," 25 Aug. 2017
Today, the series continues with the 1983 fire that claimed the former gambling mecca known as The Beverly Country Club.

— mike scott, NOLA.com, "Remembering The Beverly, a mob-run playground in Jefferson Parish," 13 Aug. 2017
Hvar is not the only European vacation mecca to be having second thoughts about the huge wave of hedonistic revelers unleashed by bargain airlines.

— rick lyman, The Seattle Times, "Croatian Island wants tourists who don’t behave badly," 9 Aug. 2017
A strong case can be made to give the game to Orlando, which reportedly is more interested in hosting the game in 2019 : It’s a tourist-mecca.

— ajc homepage, ajc, "Should Atlanta host 2018 MLS All-Star game?," 31 July 2017
Looking Glass Projects LGP is the new online mecca for Chicago underground music.

— kevin warwick, Chicago Reader, "Karissa Talanian of Eye Vybe Records on a new online mecca for Chicago underground music," 25 July 2017
The 36-floor building near the tourist mecca of Waikiki was built in 1971, before sprinklers were mandatory in high-rises.

— caleb jones, The Seattle Times, "Some residents couldn’t hear alarms in deadly Honolulu blaze," 17 July 2017
The 36-floor building near the tourist mecca of Waikiki was built in 1971, before sprinklers were mandatory in high-rises.

— caleb jones, The Seattle Times, "Some residents couldn’t hear alarms in deadly Honolulu blaze," 17 July 2017

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.

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.