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

As well as the life sentence, Hui was also ordered to forfeit his personal assets and was stripped of all political rights, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported, citing a verdict handed down by a court in the southern metropolis of Shenzhen. — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

The sensitivity of the JWST has allowed astronomers to finally give these smaller stars a chance to shine and stand out, like spotting an incredible piece of architecture in a vast metropolis of glass and steel. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2026

After all, the university’s magnetic pull depends on its being embedded in a global metropolis with its profusion of experts, employers, and opportunities. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Aug. 2026

Retirees can live comfortably in Panama’s largest metropolis, Panama City, for between $1,700 and $3,000 per month. — Brittany Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 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