cosmopolitan
koz-muck-POL-ih-tun
/ˌkɒzməˈpɒlɪtən/
Familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures.
Reflects broad international exposure and broadmindedness rather than mere wealth.
The story behind the word. When Diogenes the Cynic was asked where he came from in ancient Greece, he declared himself a 'kosmopolites'—a citizen of the entire world rather than just one city-state.
Word relationships
- worldly: Worldly implies practical experience with human nature, whereas cosmopolitan emphasizes international exposure.
- provincial: Provincial means narrow-minded or unsophisticated, tied to a small locality.
Commonly confused with
- metropolitan: Metropolitan relates to a major city, while cosmopolitan relates to cultural diversity.
Word family
- cosmopolitanism (noun): The ideology that all human beings belong to a single community.
Collocations
- cosmopolitan city
- cosmopolitan outlook
- cosmopolitan atmosphere
Example sentences
- "London remains one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, attracting people from every continent." Journalism
Memory hook
COSMO (space/world) + POLITAN (citizen) = a citizen of the entire world. Citizen of the world.
When not to use
Don't use for someone who is narrowly focused on local traditions or isolated.
Fun facts
- Diogenes invented the word to refuse allegiance to any single city-state in ancient Greece.
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.