metropolitan

noun met·ro·pol·i·tan \ ˌme-trə-ˈpä-lə-tən \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of metropolitan

1 : the primate of an ecclesiastical province

2 : one who lives in a metropolis or displays metropolitan manners or customs

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Examples of metropolitan in a Sentence

a TV series about the lives and loves of a group of young, attractive metropolitans

Recent Examples of metropolitan from the Web

The new list ranks the country's 125 largest metropolitan areas based on affordability, job prospects and quality of life.

— sarah brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "U.S. News: Cincinnati in top 50 of Best Places to Live 2018," 10 Apr. 2018
But polls show Moscow’s metropolitan, middle-class youth are far from representative of Russia as a whole.

— francesca ebel, BostonGlobe.com, "Breaking mold, some Russian youth speak out against Putin," 15 Mar. 2018
But the partnership with a specific metropolitan is less common.

— dee-ann durbin, Detroit Free Press, "Ford to test fleet of self-driving cars in Miami," 27 Feb. 2018
Iakovos served the in the Greek Orthodox Church for nearly 50 years and was the first metropolitan of Chicago.

— meredith colias, Post-Tribune, "Head of Chicago Greek Archdiocese remembered for common touch," 7 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'metropolitan.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of metropolitan

14th century

metropolitan Synonyms

Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture

metropolitan

adjective

Definition of metropolitan

1 : of or constituting a metropolitan or his see

2 : of, relating to, or characteristic of a metropolis and sometimes including its suburbs

3 : of, relating to, or constituting a mother country as distinguished from a colony

See metropolitan defined for English-language learners

Examples of metropolitan in a Sentence

the greater New York metropolitan area
This is one of the best seafood restaurants in metropolitan Los Angeles.

Recent Examples of metropolitan from the Web

Indeed, asked that question and found five metropolitan areas in the United States.

— william thornton, AL.com, "National website finds Alabama city where paycheck goes farthest," 11 Apr. 2018
Kentucky Fastest-growing metropolitan area: Bowling Green 2010-2017 pop.

— sarah brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Report: Cincinnati isn't the fastest growing city in Ohio," 10 Apr. 2018
With fewer than 6,000 active homes on the market, the Indianapolis metropolitan area’s inventor is at an all-time low.

— carpenter realtors, Indianapolis Star, "Three ways realtors and sellers can make the most of an open house," 9 Apr. 2018
The combined traffic at the New York metropolitan area’s three large airports is typically twice that of JFK’s alone.

— Bloomberg.com, "Zuckerberg Testifies Before Senate Panel," 9 Apr. 2018
Mexico City is the first stop on a five-day trip by the FIFA task force, which also will visit Atlanta, Toronto and the New York metropolitan area, where the bid committee proposed the 2026 final be held at East Rutherford, New Jersey.

— editors, USA TODAY, "Syria attack, Bill Cosby retrial and more: 5 things you need to know Monday," 9 Apr. 2018
Two of the Republicans familiar with Scott’s plans said he is expected to campaign this week in some of Florida’s largest metropolitan areas.

— sean sullivan, Washington Post, "Fla. Gov. Rick Scott expected in Washington to raise money for widely anticipated Senate run," 8 Apr. 2018
Snow began falling in the Kansas City area late Sunday morning as another round of wintry mix moved into the metropolitan area.

— robert a. cronkleton, kansascity, "Kansas City gets more snow in April; here's how much is expected to fall | The Kansas City Star," 8 Apr. 2018
There are more jobs than available workers in the Elkhart metropolitan area.

— bob davis, WSJ, "The Future of America’s Economy Looks a Lot Like Elkhart, Indiana," 6 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of metropolitan

Middle English, from Late Latin metropolitanus of the see of a metropolitan, from metropolita, noun, metropolitan, from Late Greek mētropolitēs, from mētropolis see of a metropolitan, from Greek, capital

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First Known Use: 15th century

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