megapixel

IPA/ˈmeɡəpɪksl/
IPA/ˈmeɡəpɪksl/

megapixel — noun

  • megapixelsingular
  • megapixelsplural

1. A unit of measurement equal to one million pixels — the tiny coloured squares th

1.noun
Definition

A unit of measurement equal to one million pixels — the tiny coloured squares that make up a digital image — used to indicate how much fine detail a camera, scanner, or screen can capture or display.

Example

The new smartphone has a 108‑megapixel camera for ultra‑sharp photos.

number + megapixel + noun (attributive)

A 12‑megapixel sensor captures enough detail for large wall prints.

megapixel + noun (attributive)

Common collocations
  • megapixel count
  • megapixel camera
  • megapixel sensor
  • more megapixels
  • higher megapixels
  • number of megapixels

Grammar Patterns

number + megapixel(s) + noun

megapixel + noun (attributive)

Usage Note

Megapixel is a countable noun often used attributively (before another noun) with a hyphen and a number, e.g. a 24-megapixel camera. The actual image quality depends on many factors besides the megapixel count, such as sensor size and lens quality.

Common Mistakes

This camera has more megapixels, so the photos must be better.
A camera with more megapixels can capture more detail, but other factors like sensor size also affect quality.
Megapixel count alone does not determine overall image quality.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Megapixel refers specifically to one million pixels and is used to describe the total number of pixels in a camera sensor or digital image. Resolution is a broader term that can refer to the dimensions of an image in pixels (e.g. 1920 × 1080) or to overall image sharpness; it is not a unit. A pixel is the single smallest element of a digital image — a tiny square of colour — while a megapixel is simply a collection of one million of those squares. DPI (dots per inch) measures print density, not image dimensions. For example, a 12-megapixel camera produces a 4000 × 3000 pixel image; printing that at 300 DPI yields an 11 × 14 inch print. Understanding the difference helps learners choose devices and edit images more effectively.

megapixel ↗resolution ↗pixel ↗dpi

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • number of megapixels
  • megapixel count
  • more megapixels
  • higher megapixels

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Megapixel was coined in English in the 1980s as the digital-imaging industry grew. It combines the prefix mega- (from Greek megas, meaning 'great' or 'large') with pixel, a blend of picture and element. The word first appeared in marketing materials for early digital cameras and scanners.