megaverse

Megaverse is a term used to describe a collection or hierarchy of universes that is larger than a single universe or a simple multiverse. In speculative cosmology and popular fiction, it denotes an overarching framework that contains multiple universes, often connected by shared origins, physical laws, or cosmological boundaries. It is not a term with a fixed scientific definition.

The distinction between a megaverse and a multiverse is not universally defined. A multiverse typically refers to a set of parallel or branching universes with varying constants, while a megaverse implies a larger-scale structure or meta-level organization that encompasses many universes. In practice, writers and theorists sometimes use megaverse, omniverse, or even multiverse interchangeably, leading to ambiguity.

In fiction, megaverse settings enable diverse worlds with different physics and inhabitants to coexist and interact. Travelers may move between universes, and stories can explore governance, hubs, and cross-cultural exchange across the megaverse. The concept is primarily a world-building device, offering scope for expansive narratives rather than a precise scientific model.

For science and philosophy, there is no established empirical basis for a megaverse. It remains speculative or metaphysical, used to discuss the limits of cosmology, the hierarchy of universal structures, or the nature of reality beyond a single universe. Any serious use should clarify how the megaverse is defined in that context.

Examples of megaverse-like concepts appear in certain science fiction franchises and fantasy universes, where authors deploy extensive cosmologies to host numerous story settings. In those contexts, the term serves as a convenient label for scale rather than a validated scientific category.

See also: multiverse, omniverse, cosmology, worldbuilding, fictional cosmology.