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

Nipping across to one German metropolis is about to get a little easier. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2026

Dogan deliberately arranged for Salah’s medical to take place in the metropolis of Istanbul, over 500 miles (nearly 900km) from Trabzon, so the Egyptian could see how frenzied the welcome would be. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

But the region is far from the coastal metropolises that have made California synonymous with liberal governance. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

With fewer crowds than Spain’s main metropolises, a slower pace sets the tone for a sojourn meant to be savored. — Condé Nast Traveler, 3 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