megohm: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowTechnical, Scientific
Quick answer
What does “megohm” mean?
A unit of electrical resistance equal to one million ohms.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of electrical resistance equal to one million ohms.
Specifically used in electrical engineering and electronics to describe very high resistance values, often encountered in insulation testing, high-impedance circuits, and sensitive measurement equipment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent. The symbol 'MΩ' is universal.
Connotations
None beyond its technical definition in either variety.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both UK and US English, confined to technical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “megohm” in a Sentence
[number] megohm(s)a [high/low] megohm [resistance/value]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “megohm” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The megohm resistor was carefully soldered into place.
- We need a megohm-range meter for this test.
American English
- Use a megohm resistor for the pull-up circuit.
- Check the megohm value on the multimeter.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, may appear in technical specifications for electronic components or insulation materials.
Academic
Used in physics and electrical engineering textbooks, research papers, and lab reports.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in electronics, electrical engineering, and metrology for specifying high resistance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “megohm”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “megohm”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “megohm”
- Misspelling as 'megaohm' (though sometimes seen, 'megohm' is standard).
- Incorrect pluralisation (e.g., 'megohms' is fine).
- Using it as a general adjective (e.g., 'a megohm cable' is wrong; say 'a cable with megohm insulation').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same unit. 'Megohm' is the more common and standard spelling in technical literature, following the pattern of combining the prefix 'mega-' directly with 'ohm'.
Almost exclusively in electrical engineering, electronics, and physics. Common contexts include specifying resistor values, describing insulation quality (e.g., 'megohm insulation'), and in the specifications for multimeters and other test equipment.
The symbol is MΩ, where 'M' stands for mega (million) and 'Ω' is the omega symbol for ohm.
No. It is strictly a noun denoting a unit of measurement. It has no verbal forms and is not used in figurative or casual speech.
A unit of electrical resistance equal to one million ohms.
Megohm is usually technical, scientific in register.
Megohm: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɛɡəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛɡoʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MEGA-OHM: a MEGA (huge) number of OHMS (units of resistance). It's a million times bigger than a single ohm.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (Pure technical measurement term)
Practice
Quiz
What does 'megohm' specifically measure?