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

Atlanta, the sprawling southern metropolis, is used to serving as a temporary home for the rare black-and-white bears. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026

Perhaps most surprising, though, the top 10 favors big, bustling metropolises rather than the sunny coastal cities or small towns that might first come to mind when planning a romantic trip. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2026

Back at the peninsula’s base, the highway arrives in the relative metropolis of Traverse City (a destination in its own right and well worth adding a day or two to your trip). — Mike Norton, Midwest Living, 26 Sep. 2026

The water level of a major reservoir supplying the bustling capital city of Jakarta -- the world's biggest metropolis -- is dropping inch by inch. — Edna Tarigan, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 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