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

• city
• 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

The metropolis of millions is facing a water crisis, 21 July, 2025, Iran, Tehran. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025

Another new addition to the animal-run metropolis of Zootopia is Nibbles Maplestick, a beaver voiced by comedian and actress Fortune Feimster. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Bangkok continues to capture the hearts of Travel + Leisure readers with its electrifying blend of tradition and modernity, from golden temples and bustling night markets to rooftop bars with sweeping skyline views that provide a birds-eye view of this metropolis of 11 million people. —John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025

Bring them home, bring them home Austin would not be a big place today, much less an international metropolis, without air-conditioning. —Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

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

Rhymes for metropolis

• acropolis
• monopolise
• necropolis
• megalopolis
• propolis

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