cosmopolitan
koz-muh-POL-ih-tuhn
/ˌkɒzməˈpɒlɪtən/
Familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures; containing people from many different countries.
Implies a sophisticated, worldly attitude that transcends local prejudices or narrow national identities.
The story behind the word. The ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope was once asked where he came from. Instead of naming his city-state, he declared, 'I am a citizen of the world' (kosmopolites). This radical idea challenged the ancient Greek norm of fierce loyalty to one's local city, birthright, and tribe.
Word relationships
- worldly: Worldly suggests practical experience and sophistication, but can sometimes imply a focus on material success rather than cultural openness.
- sophisticated: Sophisticated refers to refined taste and intellectual complexity, but does not necessarily require global cultural experience.
- provincial: Provincial describes a narrow, limited outlook typical of isolated or rural areas.
- parochial: Parochial means having a limited or narrow outlook, originally referring to a local church parish.
Commonly confused with
- metropolitan: Metropolitan refers strictly to a large city or busy urban area, whereas cosmopolitan refers to the diverse, worldly character of its people.
Word family
- cosmopolitanism (noun): The ideology that all human beings belong to a single community, based on a shared morality.
Collocations
- cosmopolitan city
- cosmopolitan outlook
- cosmopolitan atmosphere
- cosmopolitan culture
Example sentences
- "With residents from over a hundred countries, London is a truly cosmopolitan city." Describing a global financial hub.
- "Her cosmopolitan outlook on life was shaped by years of living in Tokyo, Paris, and Nairobi." Describing a well-traveled individual.
Memory hook
A 'cosmopolitan' person is at home in the 'cosmos' (universe) and the 'polis' (city). A citizen of the entire cosmos.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a simple, rural, or isolated setting; it requires a high degree of global variety and sophistication.
Fun facts
- The cosmopolitan cocktail, a famous drink made of vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime, was named to evoke a sense of urban sophistication.
Related words
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