cosmopolitan

1 of 2

adjective

cos·​mo·​pol·​i·​tan ˌkäz-mə-ˈpä-lə-tən How to pronounce cosmopolitan (audio)
1
: having wide international sophistication : worldly
Greater cultural diversity has led to a more cosmopolitan attitude among the town's younger generations.
2
: composed of persons, constituents, or elements from all or many parts of the world
a city with a cosmopolitan population
3
: having worldwide rather than limited or provincial scope or bearing
… his cosmopolitan benevolence, impartially extended to all races and to all creeds.Thomas Babington Macaulay
4
: found in most parts of the world and under varied ecological conditions
a cosmopolitan herb

cosmopolitan

2 of 2

noun

1
: cosmopolite
Many cosmopolitans around the world now also share the English language …Robert J. Shiller
2
or less commonly cosmo : a cocktail made of vodka, orange-flavored liqueur, lime juice, and cranberry juice

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Defining Cosmopolitan (Not the Drink)

Since cosmopolitan includes the root polit-, from the Greek word for "citizen", someone who is cosmopolitan is a "citizen of the world". She may be able to read the morning paper in Rio de Janeiro, attend a lecture in Madrid, and assist at a refugee camp in Uganda with equal ease—and maybe all in the same week. And a city or a country that is cosmopolitan has aspects and elements that come from various countries.

Examples of cosmopolitan in a Sentence

Adjective Greater cultural diversity has led to a more cosmopolitan attitude among the town's younger generations. the cosmopolitan taste of the store's customers It's one of the country's more cosmopolitan cities. Noun as someone who had lived in Paris for a year as an exchange student, she seemed very much the cosmopolitan to her old classmates
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Its first leap onto the international stage was in the 1920s, when American consumers were captivated by what those at the time viewed as an exaggeratedly exotic and cosmopolitan pursuit. Kinsey Gidicl, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 The hallmarks of the rarefied Hong Kong brand are all present in this new build: immaculate service, streamlined tech, neutrally cosmopolitan design that gives way to a serene frictionless-ness, and capital-L luxury. Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2024 But the New York area, with its cosmopolitan profile, hospitality infrastructure and tourist sites, won out. David Waldstein, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024 Casa Blake—with a sophisticated design by JSa Architects—exudes cosmopolitan flair, thanks to its waterfront location in the Marina Village. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024 They’re also defined by Tupper’s cosmopolitan consciousness. Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Gulf Beaches Mérida may be a thriving, cosmopolitan city, but one of my favorite things to do here is escape the pavement and hit the beach. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2024 These days, Kastellorizo attracts a cosmopolitan creative set looking for seclusion, serenity and the liberating simplicity afforded by an island where beauty is everywhere but very little to do. Rachel Howard, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Feb. 2024 The atmosphere is buzzy and vibrant and the hotel has a cosmopolitan feel, being near London. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Noun
The couple and their guests toasted with cosmopolitans, Tom Collinses, and Champagne to kick things off, and then the lighting transitioned to a ’90s dance party with strobes and lasers as guests spilled out onto the balconies of the ICA overlooking St. James’s Park and the Mall. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2023 To survive in an interdependent world, any wealthy polity, especially a democratic welfare state, must necessarily regulate flows of goods, finance, and people in its own interest—even if its inhabitants are sincere cosmopolitans. Hans Kundnani, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023 To assuage his fears, Lane met Sharp and Jackson at an Indian restaurant near his house, where their comic sensibilities clicked and cosmopolitans were served until the house lights came on. Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2023 Some have a false memory that the show was just four women drinking cosmopolitans and talking about their vaginas over expensive salads. Louis Staples, Harper's BAZAAR, 26 July 2023 There was Orange Juice, Scottish indie’s consummate cosmopolitans. Andrew Holter, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2023 That’s 100 million years closer to the beginning of the cosmos than a black hole observed in 2021 with a telescope in Chile led by a Chinese team. Time, 10 July 2023 Sonifications have, in fact, already been used for research, including by the astrophysicist Wanda Díaz-Merced, who has been blind since her 20s and now works at the European Gravitational Observatory in Cascina, Italy. SYSTEM Sounds isn’t the only group trying to make the cosmos audible. Ramin Skibba, WIRED, 7 July 2023 In the cosmos of McCarthy’s novels, music often occupies a place alongside the sacred, among the mysterious rites. Caine O'Rear, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cosmopolitan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see cosmopolite

Noun

see cosmopolite

First Known Use

Adjective

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cosmopolitan was circa 1645

Dictionary Entries Near cosmopolitan

Cite this Entry

“Cosmopolitan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cosmopolitan. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cosmopolitan

adjective
cos·​mo·​pol·​i·​tan
ˌkäz-mə-ˈpäl-ət-ᵊn
1
: having a worldwide scope or outlook : not limited or narrow
cosmopolitan world travelers
2
: composed of persons or elements from many parts of the world
a cosmopolitan city
3
: found in most parts of the world and in many kinds of ecological conditions
a cosmopolitan herb
cosmopolitan noun

More from Merriam-Webster on cosmopolitan

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