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

For years, most people in this metropolis were unwaveringly kind and patient with international visitors. —Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025

As buyers flocked to sunny South Florida shores during and following the pandemic lockdowns, prices in the metropolis soared—and the need for designers swiftly followed. —Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 7 July 2025

Despite the surge in cancellations, Austin is actually performing better than other Texas metropolises in terms of airfare on Tuesday. —Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Unlike its European counterparts, the idea of gathering in public spaces is not popularized in this metropolis. —Asli Pelit, New York Times, 29 June 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