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Megalo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “large, great, grand, abnormally large.” It is used in many scientific and medical terms.

Megalo- ultimately comes from the Greek ��é������, meaning “great, large.”

What are variants of megalo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, megalo- becomes megal-, as in megalopsia.

Another variant of megalo- are you may be familiar with is mega-, as in megaphone or megabyte. Mega- is also used as a unit of measure prefix to indicate a fact of one million (e.g., megahertz).

Corresponding forms of megalo- combined to the end of words are -megaly and -megalia.

You may have come across the combining form megalo- from the word megalomania. In psychiatry, megalomania refers to delusions of greatness, wealth, and the like. The term is also more generally used to mean “an obsession with doing extravagant or grand things” and “extreme self-importance.”

The combining form megalo- means “abnormally large,” as we’ve seen. The combining form -mania means “excessive excitement or enthusiasm.” Megalomania has a little sense of “great enthusiasm.”

What are some words that use the combining form megalo-?

• megaloblast
• megalocyte
• megalodontia
• megaloencephaly
• megaloglossia
• megalopenis
• megalopolis
• megalosaur (based on the equivalent form of megalo- in New Latin)

What are some other forms that megalo- may be commonly confused with?

• macro-
• magneto-
• magni-
• mechano-
• melano-
• metallo-

The combining form -polis means “city.” With this in mind, what is a megalopolis?