The word 'mecha' ( メカ, meka) is an abbreviation, first used in Japanese, of the word ' mechanical'.
Alternatively, in the original Japanese context of the word, 'mecha' may refer to mobile machinery/vehicles (including aircraft) in general, manned or otherwise.
The term may also refer to real world piloted humanoid or non-humanoid robotic platforms, either currently in existence or still on the drawing board (i.e. The concept of Super Robot and Real Robot are two such examples found in Japanese anime and manga. Different subgenres exist, with varying connotations of realism. These machines vary greatly in size and shape, but are distinguished from vehicles by their humanoid or biomorphic appearance and size-bigger than a human. The term was first used in Japanese ( meka) after shortening the English loanword mekanizumu ( メカニズム, 'mechanism') or mekanikaru ( メカニカル, 'mechanical'), but the meaning in Japanese is more inclusive, and 'robot' ( robotto) or 'giant robot' is the narrower term. Mechas are typically depicted as humanoid mobile robots. The term mecha ( Japanese: メカ, Hepburn: meka) may refer to both scientific ideas and science-fiction genres that center on giant robots or machines ( mechs) controlled by people. A mecha made by Mugen Motorsports at the Osaka Auto Messe (2019)
