What Does MB Mean?

Co-authored by Cher Gopman and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: May 16, 2022 References

If you’re not totally sure what the abbreviation “MB” means, you’re definitely not alone. This versatile acronym can have widely different meanings depending on if it’s used conversationally or in a tech-related context. We’ll give you the lowdown on all the most common definitions for MB, so you can decipher its meaning in your own chats and social media feeds.

Section 1 of 4:

What does MB over text?

1
MB typically means “My Bad” when sent over chat. Maybe your friend mixed up the dates for an upcoming event, or assumed something that they shouldn’t have. For minor mix-ups and confusion, MB is an easy way to apologize without making a big deal out of the situation.^{[1]
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- Person 1: “We’re meeting at 7, right?”
  Person 2: “Nope. 8:30”
  Person 1: “Whoops! MB”
2
MB can occasionally mean “maybe.” If you dropped a “yes or no” question in the chat and got a “MB” in response, there’s a good chance that your friend is saying “maybe” instead of giving a definitive answer.^{[2]
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- You: “Wanna go to the movies tomorrow?”
  Them: “Idk, mb”

Section 2 of 4:

What does MB mean in technology?

1
MB usually stands for “megabyte.” A megabyte is a digital unit of measurement for data. A lot of times, MB is used to describe how much data a device can hold. In other instances, it can stand for download speed. For reference, a MB has 1 million bytes, a gigabyte (GB) holds 1,000 MBs, and a terabyte (TB) holds 1,000 GBs.^{[3]
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- “Dang, your hard drive only has 500 MB of space.”
2
Mb can also be short for “megabit.” A megabit is also a digital unit of measurement for data, but it’s way smaller than a megabyte—in fact, 8 megabits can fit in a single megabyte! To help differentiate the two, a megabyte is abbreviated as MB (all capitalized) and a megabit is abbreviated as Mb (with the “b” lowercase).^{[4]
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Use MB

1
Say MB instead of “my bad” to take responsibility for something you did wrong. MB can be a handy way to apologize/acknowledge your wrongdoing in a minor mix-up.
- “Sorry for eating the last yogurt. That’s MB”
- Person 1: “Did you forget to top off the gas tank?”
  Person 2: “Oh crap, that totally slipped my mind. MB!”
2
Use MB as “maybe” to express potential interest in something. Not ready to send a definite “yes” or “no” to someone’s request just yet? MB gives you a little bit of wiggle room without having to offer full commitment.
- Them: “You up for grabbing drinks tonight?”
  You: “Idk, mb”
3
Drop some tech jargon like “megabyte” or “megabit” with MB. In this day and age, there’s a good chance that you’ll be dealing with GBs and TBs rather than simple MBs. Still, if megabytes or megabits do happen to pop up in your technological convo, use MB or Mb to abbreviate the terms, respectively.
- “Think I might have a storage problem…my 1 TB hard drive only has 750 MB of space left 😬”
- "The capacity is only 2 Mb per second."

Section 4 of 4:

Alternate Meanings

1
MB can be shorthand for Manitoba, the Canadian province. See an address label with MB written on the bottom? Chances are, the address corresponds to someplace in Manitoba, Canada.^{[5]
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- 500 Main Street
  Winnipeg, MB
  R3B 3M9
- Manitoba can also be abbreviated as “Man.” in different instances.
2
MB can also stand for “Bachelor of Medicine.” If someone earns a Bachelor of Medicine degree, it’s often abbreviated as “MB.” If you see “MB” in an academic scenario, it probably refers to this.^{[6]
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- Believe it or not, MB doesn’t actually stand for “Master of Business”—the acronym for that degree is “MBA.”^{[7]
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3
MB can sometimes mean “Might Be” in a casual conversation. Not totally sure about something? Use MB to share your thoughts without sounding super definitive.^{[8]
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- Them: “Isn’t she in that CW show?”
  You: “Idk, she MB”
4
MB can occasionally mean “Message Board.” A message board is just an online community where people can discuss a specific topic or franchise with fellow enthusiasts. If you see a message like “I just posted in the MB” or “Check the MB,” the poster is probably talking about a message board.^{[9]
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- “Be sure to read the rules and regulations thread before posting anything on the MB!”
5
MB means “millibar” in the meteorlogical field. A millibar is metric unit of air pressure, and is often used by meteorologists, or people who study the weather. If you’re reading a weather report or weather-related article and come across MB, it’s safe to assume they’re talking about the unit of measurement.^{[10]
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- “There are around 1013.25 MBs in 1 standard atmosphere.”