megahertz: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical
Quick answer
What does “megahertz” mean?
A unit of frequency equal to one million cycles per second, used to measure radio waves, computing clock speeds, and electromagnetic signals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of frequency equal to one million cycles per second, used to measure radio waves, computing clock speeds, and electromagnetic signals.
In broader technical contexts, a measure of signal processing speed or computational frequency; sometimes used informally to refer to processing capability.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Pronunciation of 'hertz' may slightly vary (/hɜːts/ vs /hɝːts/). The word is used identically in technical fields in both regions.
Connotations
Technical precision, engineering, electronics, computing.
Frequency
Used with similar low frequency in technical contexts in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “megahertz” in a Sentence
[Number] + megahertz + of + [noun][Verb] + at + [number] + megahertzVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “megahertz” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The 900-megahertz band is reserved for emergency services.
- Look for a processor with a higher megahertz rating.
American English
- The 900-megahertz band is for emergency services.
- Check the device's megahertz specification.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in specifications for electronic products, e.g., 'This router has a 2.4 gigahertz processor.'
Academic
Common in physics, engineering, and computer science papers discussing wave frequencies or processor architecture.
Everyday
Rare. Might appear when discussing computer or radio specifications with a technical bent.
Technical
The primary domain. Used precisely in electronics, telecommunications, radio, and computing to denote frequency.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “megahertz”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “megahertz”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “megahertz”
- Pronouncing 'hertz' as /hɜːtz/ instead of /hɜːts/.
- Writing as two words: 'mega hertz'.
- Using it as an adjective without a number (e.g., 'a megahertz computer' is incorrect; say 'a 3.2 megahertz computer').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are completely different. Megahertz (MHz) measures frequency or speed (cycles per second). Megabytes (MB) measures digital information storage capacity or data size.
The standard abbreviation is MHz (with a capital M, capital Hz).
Not necessarily. While clock speed (megahertz/gigahertz) is important, modern processor performance also depends heavily on architecture, core count, cache size, and efficiency. A newer processor with lower megahertz can often outperform an older one with higher megahertz.
Gigahertz (GHz), which is one thousand megahertz (one billion hertz).
A unit of frequency equal to one million cycles per second, used to measure radio waves, computing clock speeds, and electromagnetic signals.
Megahertz is usually technical in register.
Megahertz: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɛɡəhɜːts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛɡəhɝːts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not on my frequency (playful extension, not a standard idiom)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MEGA (meaning huge, like a million) and HERTZ (the scientist who discovered radio waves). So, megahertz is a HUGE number of hertz.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED IS FREQUENCY (e.g., a 'faster' processor has a higher megahertz rating).
Practice
Quiz
What does one megahertz represent?