metropolis

noun

me·​trop·​o·​lis mə-ˈträ-p(ə-)ləs 

1

: the chief or capital city of a country, state, or region

2

: the city or state of origin of a colony (as of ancient Greece)

3

a

: a city regarded as a center of a specified activity

an industrial metropolis

a cattle metropolis

b

: a large important city

one of Europe's great metropolises

Synonyms

• asphalt jungle
• burg
• city
• cosmopolis
• megacity
• megalopolis
• municipality
• town

Examples of metropolis in a Sentence

a big, teeming metropolis where ambitious people from all over come to make their mark

Recent Examples on the Web

Like a genuine metropolis, the Met expanded according to grand plans that were rarely honored and frequently adjusted to conform with expediency and improvisation. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 Dec. 2024

This bilingual metropolis embodies a unique fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, rendering it an attractive destination for families seeking a vibrant and enriching environment. —New Cies Contributor, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024

After its abandonment, the majority of Diriyah’s former residents resettled in Riyadh, which today is a veritable metropolis. —The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 3 Dec. 2024

Here’s how a drab Soviet metropolis became Central Asia’s capital of cool. —Daniel Wine, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin, from Greek mētropolis, from mētr-, mētēr mother + polis city — more at mother, police entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

metropolis

noun

me·​trop·​o·​lis mə-ˈträp-(ə-)ləs 

1

: the chief or capital city of a country, state, or region

2

: a large important city