metropolitan

1 of 2

noun

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

1

: the primate of an ecclesiastical province

2

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

metropolitan

2 of 2

adjective

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

Synonyms

Noun

• city slicker
• cosmopolitan
• cosmopolite
• slicker
• sophisticate

Examples of metropolitan in a Sentence

Noun

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

Adjective

the greater New York metropolitan area

This is one of the best seafood restaurants in metropolitan Los Angeles.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The international metropolitan is strategically located in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), an economic powerhouse with a GDP of about US$2 trillion in 2023. —Familyofficehk Contributor, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024

This city allows guests to enjoy an authentic Brazilian culture and history without the hustle and bustle of prominent metropolitans such as Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. —Geoff Whitmore, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024

Adjective

But in 28 other metropolitan areas the GAO assessed that were impacted by hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, Irma and Sandy, economic activity didn’t even drop below historic averages in the month of the hurricane or three months after it. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 17 Oct. 2024

Fall colors in the Milwaukee area, including Holy Hill As of Oct. 17, here's the outlook for the metropolitan Milwaukee area and beauty spots within driving distance: Madison leads with 70%. —Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing metropolitan

• metropolitan borough

Kids Definition

metropolitan

1 of 2 noun

met·​ro·​pol·​i·​tan ˌme-trə-ˈpäl-ət-ᵊn 

1

: the head of a church province

2

: one who lives in a metropolis or who has metropolitan manners or customs

metropolitan

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a metropolis

2

: of or relating to a city and the densely populated surrounding areas