What Does MC Stand For? Slang Meaning, Rap Connection & More

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Are MCs and rappers the same, or is there more to the definition?

Co-authored by Christa Innis and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: December 15, 2024 Fact Checked

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MC Meaning

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MCs vs. Rappers

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Using MC

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Other Meanings

It’s okay to be a little confused if you see someone use the acronym “MC” and aren’t sure what it means—as it turns out, there are several possible definitions! But don’t worry: we’re here to help you understand and differentiate each. MC is mainly an acronym for “Master of ceremonies,” which is basically a host for events. It’s also associated with rap performers (“microphone controllers”). In this article, we’ll cover each distinct meaning of MC and how to tell which is which, with plenty of examples!

MC Definition Overview

MC is an acronym that most often stands for “Master of ceremonies” or “Microphone controller.” A master of ceremonies is an event host, while a microphone controller is another term for a rap performer. Secondarily, MC can mean “Minecraft,” “Main character,” and even “Member of Congress.”

Section 1 of 4:

What does MC mean?

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“MC” is short for “Master of ceremonies.” A master of ceremonies traditionally acts as a host—for a formal event (like a wedding or gala), a public event (like a convention or conference), or an entertainment event (like a concert or open mic night). They’re usually in charge of energizing the crowd and ensuring the event runs smoothly. ^{[1]
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- “Did you hear? That upcoming concert series just announced its MC!”
- “The talent show’s emcee went the extra mile to introduce every guest in a fun way. He was awesome!”
- “MC” can also be spelled “emcee.” They mean the same thing!
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“MC” also stands for “Microphone controller” in rap and hip-hop culture. Performers of rap and hip-hop music are often called MCs—though in this context, “MC” stands for “microphone controller” or “mic checka.” Emceeing is often associated with live performances and lyrical content. Additionally, some rappers have the acronym MC in their stage name. ^{[2]
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- “Mos Def is a crazy good MC. Maybe the best!”
- “Is there an MC you’d pay anything to see perform live?”
- Overall, the role and duties of an MC don't vary by gender; MCs mainly differ in terms of whether they're hosts or performers.

Section 2 of 4:

How does an MC differ from a rapper?

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MCs and rappers are different but can sometimes overlap. While an MC can still refer to the general host of an event, the term became connected to rap and hip-hop culture in the 1970s. Originally, rap MCs were just hosts whose job was energizing the crowd. Over time, they leaned more into performance as vocalists who rhyme oversampling, scratching, and mixing tracks provided by a DJ. ^{[3]
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- Rappers who perform live for audiences are also technically emceeing. You can refer to a rapper as an MC or emcee—but rappers can do more than just emcee.
- MCs are often associated with traditional hip-hop culture, while rappers are more mainstream performers.
- MCs don’t only exist in rap and hip-hop; garage, drum and bass, ragga, happy hardcore, and old-school rave music commonly have MCs too.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Use MC

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Describe the host of an event you’re attending. If you’re going to an event with a master of ceremonies (or looking for one to host an event), use “MC” to refer to them. Similarly, you could use this acronym to praise an MC who was especially great—or criticize an MC you think dropped the ball.
- “Do you know anyone willing to be the MC for an open mic night?”
- “The MC at the wedding was so great! And she really made the afterparty feel fun.”
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Discuss your favorite rappers with friends. You can also specifically refer to different rappers as MCs when you share artists you enjoy (or dislike)—or talk about rappers with MC in their stage name, like MC Lyte, Young MC, and MC Hammer.
- “Sorry, but no dance track will ever beat U Can’t Touch This. MC Hammer is timeless!”
- “Which MC is the greatest of all time in your book? I’m a big Eminem fan.”

Section 4 of 4:

Other Definitions of MC

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Minecraft Gamers sometimes refer to the popular sandbox video game Minecraft as “MC” for short. Minecraft is a game that lets you make and explore entire worlds made from blocks. If someone talks about playing “MC” or joining an “MC” server, they probably mean Minecraft. ^{[4]
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- “Doing some building in MC. Wanna check out my house?”
- “Hey, wanna start an MC server together? It’ll be awesome!”
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Main character Different narrative and storytelling media often refer to the protagonist as the “MC,’ or main character. For example, you might see a story-rich game or an author refer to their main character (the character central to the story) as the “MC” for short.
- “I love how the MC is characterized in this book! Definitely recommend it.”
- “Ooh, the MC’s backstory in this visual novel game is really interesting!! 😮”
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Mind control In the World of Warcraft (WoW) online multiplayer RPG, “mind control” is a spell that can control other characters in the game. As a result, you might see the spell shortened to “MC”—though this definition of the acronym is really only used among gamers who play WoW.
- “Ughhhh I always get hit with MC in PvP matches, it’s the worst 😠”
- “MC is one of my fave spells in WoW. It’s so effective!”
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Medium coeli Medium coeli is an astrology term; a person’s medium coeli (MC) is the highest point on their birth chart. It’s believed to represent a person’s public persona, professional aspirations, social standing, and long-term goals in life. In this instance, someone might use the acronym to describe traits associated with a specific MC placement.
- “I just used an MC calculator—my MC is in Gemini!”
- “Just found out what it means to have a Taurus MC. And it’s totally accurate to my personality! ♉”
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Member of Congress MC can also stand for “Member of Congress” (or “Members” if discussing multiple people) in the realm of United States politics. In this context, MC refers to people elected to serve in the legislative branch of the government (the House of Representatives and Senate, or collectively, Congress). ^{[5]
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- “The MC are voting on healthcare reform this week.”
- “Our state senator has been an MC for decades!”
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Military Cross In Britain, MC can stand for “military cross,” which is the third-level military decoration awarded to members of the British Armed Forces. It recognizes "an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land."
- “Her grandfather was awarded the MC in Britain for his service.”
- “How many people have been awarded an MC over the years?”
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Monaco “MC” is the two-letter country code for Monaco (also called the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code). Although it’s not super common to see “MC” represent Monaco in casual conversations, you might see this if someone is already talking about the country or describing a visit there.
- “I’ve heard MC is a great place to go on vacation.”
- “Can’t wait to visit MC for the first time!”
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Medical corps In terms of the United States military, MC can stand for “medical corps,” a branch of doctors, nurses, and similar healthcare specialists. The medical corps is responsible for the military’s health and emergency medical situations.
- “I served for several years in the army MC.”
- “The MC is just as vital as the other military branches!”
Many Scottish and Irish names—especially last names—have the prefix “Mc,” which means “son.” “Mc” is sometimes spelled “Mac” instead. For example, Irish and Scottish names with “Mc” include McKinnon, McDonald, McGuire, and McLaughlin.