Definition

A measure of explosive power that is equal to the energy released by one million tons of TNT.

Example

The bomb had a power of ten megatons, making it one of the most powerful ever created.

Conversation

Did you hear about that new bomb they tested?

Yeah, they said it had a power of over a megaton.

That's insane! A megaton is such a huge amount of explosive force.

I know, right? It's hard to imagine something that powerful.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Megaton** → It is formed from "mega-" (from Greek *megas*, meaning great or large) and "ton" (from Latin *tonna*, meaning a unit of weight). The word "megaton" refers to a unit of explosive power equivalent to one million tons of TNT.

Memory Tip

Think of 'mega' meaning great or large, and 'ton' as a unit of weight — together, they help you remember that a megaton is a large unit of explosive power.

Visually Confused Words