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 of metropolis

• 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

Some 65 designers flocked to the Nigerian metropolis to showcase their collections to an audience of press, influencers, and other industry figures. — Ezreen Benissan, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026

The urban retreat will be perched in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur (in the Golden Triangle District, a cultural hot spot in the metropolis) and will be home to only suites—268, to be exact. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2026

Here, in Charlotte, was a particularly fast-growing metropolis with a large public university. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2026

The cutting-edge building details the city’s evolution from a humble fishing village to a bustling metropolis with over 18 million residents. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026

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