cosmopolitan Hear it!

cosmopolitan Definition

cos·mo·poli·tan (käz′mə pälə tən)

adjective

  1. common to or representative of all or many parts of the world; not national or local
  2. not bound by local or national habits or prejudices; at home in all countries or places
  3. characterized by worldly sophistication; fashionable, urbane, etc.
  4. having a worldwide distribution, as some plants or animals

Etymology: < cosmopolite + -an

noun

a cosmopolitan person or thing; cosmopolite

cosmopolitan Related Forms

cos′·mo·poli·tan·ism′ noun

cosmopolitan Synonyms

cosmopolitan

modif.

  1. Not local or national

    metropolitan, gregarious, catholic; see international, public 2, universal 3.

  2. Sophisticated

    urbane, worldly, well-traveled; see cultured.

cosmopolitan Usage Examples

Preposition: of

city: There is plenty to see, do and experience in this most cosmopolitan of cities.

Preposition: in

year: Eating Out Restaurant menus in Stornoway, the capital of the Western Isles, have become intensely cosmopolitan in recent years.

Modifies a noun

  • metropolis: The capital city of Dakar is a huge, cosmopolitan metropolis with a pulsating atmosphere that represents Africa's urban future.
  • city: Bangkok is a cosmopolitan city where you can party all night.
  • atmosphere: In the capital, the cosmopolitan atmosphere is tangible.
  • ambiance: With a cosmopolitan ambiance, it still retains the charisma of a small village.
  • nightlife: The city is also known for its lively, cosmopolitan nightlife.
  • citizenship: Cosmopolitan citizenship does not mean asking individuals to reject their national citizenship or to accord it a lower status.

Modifying Another Word

  • truly: Truly cosmopolitan, Zermatt has an easy, relaxed atmosphere.
  • increasingly: THE Capital has become an increasingly cosmopolitan melting pot, with nearly a quarter of the city's population not native to Scotland.
  • very: Camden Town is very cosmopolitan, with some run down areas along with some trendy areas.
  • highly: The hostel is located overlooking parkland in a highly cosmopolitan, trendy suburb of Edinburgh.
  • really: London is really cosmopolitan town and you have people from everywhere really and you are not feeling like stranger.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: Eating Out Restaurant menus in Stornoway, the capital of the Western Isles, have become intensely cosmopolitan in recent years.
  • feel: As a student city, York is big enough to feel cosmopolitan, but small enough not to be overwhelming.
  • seem: Its clientele seem more cosmopolitan, more relaxed than you find in the center of town.

Browse dictionary entries near cosmopolitan

  1. cosmopolis
  2. cosmonaut
  3. cosmology
  4. Cosmoline
  5. cosmography
  6. cosmogony
  7. cosmo-
  8. cosmic rays
  9. cosmic noise
  10. cosmic dust
  1. cosmopolite
  2. cosmos
  3. cosmotron
  4. cosponsor
  5. Cossack
  6. cosset
  7. cost
  8. cost accounting
  9. cost and freight
  10. cost basis