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

The federation, based inside Beth El, is entirely volunteer-run and rarely publicizes events or occasions — a sharp contrast to the vibe in the Jewish metropolises of South Florida. —Larry Luxner, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026

Cincinnati in the first half of the 19th century was a thriving metropolis, one of the United States' 10 largest cities and one of the largest in the West. —Alexander Coolidge, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

Different cities succeed by different measures, but a robust infrastructure, a strong sense of identity, a vibrant cultural scene and a prosperous economy are necessary for any successful modern metropolis. —Mina Al-Oraibi, Time, 14 Apr. 2026

Guitarist-banjoist Paul Lecours and singer-poet Karsyn Henderson formed Truck Violence after moving from the remote prairies of Alberta to the busy metropolis of Montreal as 17-year-olds. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 14 Apr. 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