mecca

noun

mec·​ca ˈme-kə 

often capitalized

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

a mecca for shoppers

Synonyms

• axis
• base
• capital
• center
• central
• core
• cynosure
• epicenter
• eye
• focus
• ground zero
• heart
• hub
• locus
• navel
• nerve center
• nexus
• nucleus
• omphalos
• seat

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

There was also the Folklife Center, a whole store converted into a mecca of everything folk. —Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Dec. 2024

Now, the town is an affordable retirement community and a mecca for off-road vehicle enthusiasts. —Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 8 Dec. 2024

And there’s no question: New York City is a mecca for art and culture....and COPS. —Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024

Advertisement My dad’s restaurant was a mecca for movie stars and politicians, bullfighters and beautiful women. —Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

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