cos·mo·pol·i·tan
ˌkäz-mə-ˈpä-lə-tən 
1
: having wide international sophistication : worldly
Greater cultural diversity has led to a more cosmopolitan attitude among the town's younger generations.
2
: composed of persons, constituents, or elements from all or many parts of the world
a city with a cosmopolitan population
3
: having worldwide rather than limited or provincial scope or bearing
… his cosmopolitan benevolence, impartially extended to all races and to all creeds.—
T. B. Macaulay
T. B. Macaulay4
: found in most parts of the world and under varied ecological conditions
a cosmopolitan herb
1
: cosmopolite
Many cosmopolitans around the world now also share the English language …—Robert J. Shiller
Robert J. Shiller2
or less commonly cosmo
: a cocktail made of vodka, orange-flavored liqueur, lime juice, and cranberry juice
cos·mo·pol·i·tan·ism
¦käz-mə-¦pä-lə-tə-ˌni-zəm
plural -s
1
: the quality or state of being cosmopolitan : cosmopolitan character
2
a(1)
: the theory or advocacy of the formation of a world society or cosmopolis (see cosmopolis sense 1)
advocates of internationalism who decry the sovereignty or need of state organization … are called proponents of cosmopolitanism—F. L. Burdette
F. L. Burdette
(2)
: a climate of opinion distinguished by the absence of narrow national loyalties or parochial prejudices and by a readiness to borrow from other lands or regions in the formation of cultural or artistic patterns
a genial cosmopolitanism was the hallmark of that enlightened age
the literary cosmopolitanism was followed by an artistic cosmopolitanism which transcended all frontiers—Paul Wescher
Paul Wescher
b
: excessive admiration and imitation of the cultural traits or achievements of others at the expense of the cultural identity or integrity of one's own land or region
a "divine provincialism" … is but ill replaced by a cosmopolitanism lacking in virtue and distinction—Agnes Repplier
Agnes Repplier
Did you know?
Defining Cosmopolitan (Not the Drink)
Since cosmopolitan includes the root polit-, from the Greek word for "citizen", someone who is cosmopolitan is a "citizen of the world". She may be able to read the morning paper in Rio de Janeiro, attend a lecture in Madrid, and assist at a refugee camp in Uganda with equal ease—and maybe all in the same week. And a city or a country that is cosmopolitan has aspects and elements that come from various countries.
Examples of cosmopolitan in a Sentence
Adjective
Greater cultural diversity has led to a more cosmopolitan attitude among the town's younger generations.
the cosmopolitan taste of the store's customers
It's one of the country's more cosmopolitan cities.
Noun (1)
as someone who had lived in Paris for a year as an exchange student, she seemed very much the cosmopolitan to her old classmates
Recent Examples on the Web
Sierra Vandervort, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026
After the Danish‑Caribbean imprint of the Virgin Islands, San Juan introduces a wider, more cosmopolitan rhythm with Spanish colonial architecture, Afro‑Caribbean culture and the hum of a bustling Latin American city.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
That principle has crumbled so far in the face of Wembanyama’s combination of incomprehensible on-court abilities, youthful enthusiasm and cosmopolitan-unto-eccentric savoir faire.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cosmopolitan
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Adjective
This cool, cosmopolitan hotel is within walking distance of Bend’s best restaurants, shops, and the Deschutes River, and was named one of the best in the country by Tripadvisor users in 2025.
—Sierra Vandervort, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026
After the Danish‑Caribbean imprint of the Virgin Islands, San Juan introduces a wider, more cosmopolitan rhythm with Spanish colonial architecture, Afro‑Caribbean culture and the hum of a bustling Latin American city.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
Noun
As long as the overall drink remains sufficiently boozy, cocktails that contain citrus—such as margaritas, daiquiris, and cosmopolitans—can also work well or just require a few slight tweaks.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
That principle has crumbled so far in the face of Wembanyama’s combination of incomprehensible on-court abilities, youthful enthusiasm and cosmopolitan-unto-eccentric savoir faire.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for cosmopolitan
Cite this Entry
“Cosmopolitan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cosmopolitan. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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