megaton

noun

mega·​ton ˈme-gə-ˌtən How to pronounce megaton (audio)
: an explosive force equivalent to that of one million tons of TNT

Examples of megaton in a Sentence

an atomic explosion with a force of several megatons
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The roughly 180-foot-wide meteor’s explosion above a remote region of Russia released the energy equivalent of three to 50 megatons of TNT while leveling about 830 square miles of Siberian forest. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 June 2026 The energy released would equal more than 1,000 megatons of TNT, or tens to hundreds of nuclear weapons, according to the Planetary Society, a nonprofit organization promoting space exploration. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026 The annual World Air Report published by the Swiss company IQAir claims wildfire smoke from Europe and Canada contributed to approximately 1,380 megatons of carbon being released across the world in 2025. Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026 The Starship launches to put such a constellation into space might produce the equivalent of 100 megatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for megaton

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of megaton was in 1952

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Megaton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/megaton. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

megaton

noun
mega·​ton ˈmeg-ə-ˌtən How to pronounce megaton (audio)
: an explosive force equal to that of one million tons of TNT

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