metropolis
muh-TROP-uh-lis
/məˈtrɒpəlɪs/
A very large and busy city, often the capital or the most important city of a country or region.
Implies not just size, but also a sense of being a 'hub' for culture, commerce, and power.
The story behind the word. In Ancient Greece, a 'metropolis' was the 'mother city' of a colony. It was the original city-state that sent out settlers to establish new towns, maintaining a parental link to its offspring.
Word relationships
- megalopolis: Refers to a chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan areas.
- hub: Focuses on the city as a center of activity rather than its sheer size.
- hamlet: A very small settlement, smaller than a village.
Commonly confused with
- capital: A capital is the seat of government; a metropolis is the largest/most important city (though they are often the same).
Word family
- metropolitan (adjective): Relating to a large city and its surrounding area.
Collocations
- bustling metropolis
- modern metropolis
- sprawling metropolis
Example sentences
- "Rome was the first true metropolis of the ancient world, a city of a million people." Describing the scale of ancient Rome.
- "The metropolis is the proper element of this existence." A classic sociological observation.
Memory hook
Think of a 'Metro' train running through a 'Polis' (city). The Mother City.
When not to use
Avoid using it for a large town that lacks significant cultural or economic influence; 'large city' is safer there.
Fun facts
- The 1927 film 'Metropolis' by Fritz Lang is one of the most influential silent films in history, depicting a futuristic urban dystopia.
Related words
Explore more words
polycentric, urbanization, urbane, conurbation, cosmopolitan, edifice
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