metropolitan
🇬🇧 /ˌmɛtrəˈpɒlɪtən/
🇺🇸 /ˌmɛtrəˈpɑlətən/
📖 Definitions
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adjective
Relating to or characteristic of a metropolis or large city, especially its cultural, social, or economic aspects.; Of or relating to the see or province of a metropolitan bishop or archbishop.; Refining, sophisticated, or cosmopolitan in manner or style, as befitting a large city.; Of or relating to the mother country or its colonies; pertaining to the central or home territory as opposed to outlying regions.
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noun
A person who lives in a metropolis or large city.; An archbishop who has authority over the bishops of a province; a metropolitan bishop.; A citizen of the mother country as opposed to a colonial subject.
🔗 Details
Word forms
countable
Plural: metropolitans
Collocations
metropolitan areametropolitan citymetropolitan lifemetropolitan policemetropolitan regionmetropolitan museum
Derivatives
metropolismetropolitanismmetropolitanize
Synonyms
urbancosmopolitanmunicipalcity
Antonyms
ruralprovincial
Commonly confused
metropolis
EN: 'Metropolis' is the noun for the large city itself; 'metropolitan' is the adjective describing things related to such a city, or a noun for a person living there.
cosmopolitan
EN: 'Cosmopolitan' emphasizes international sophistication and diversity; 'metropolitan' relates specifically to a large city and its characteristics.
Spelling tips
EN: Remember the single 'l' and double 'o': 'metropolitan', not 'metropollitan' or 'metropolitian'.
💬 Examples
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The metropolitan area experienced rapid population growth over the past decade.
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The metropolitan cathedral served as the seat of the archbishop.
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She had a metropolitan air about her that set her apart from the small-town locals.
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The metropolitan government imposed new trade regulations on the colonies.
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As a lifelong metropolitan, he found rural life unbearably quiet.
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The metropolitan presided over the synod of all the suffragan bishops in the province.
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The metropolitans looked down upon the colonial administrators as provincial.