macrocosm

noun

mac·​ro·​cosm ˈma-krə-ˌkä-zəm How to pronounce macrocosm (audio)
1
: the great world : universe
2
: a complex that is a large-scale reproduction of one of its constituents
macrocosmic adjective
macrocosmically adverb

Examples of macrocosm in a Sentence

almost the entirety of the vast macrocosm remains beyond our reach
Recent Examples on the Web The social slippage that has led the world to become a macrocosm of the Swap Shop — so many of us free-diving for usable ephemera, pooling our limited resources with one another — is not something to celebrate. New York Times, 3 May 2022 But the flower choker holds a unique place in the macrocosm of the early aughts revival. Frances Solá-Santiago, refinery29.com, 28 Feb. 2022 In the macrocosm of white patriarchy and supremacy, Yendry understands that opposing standards hardly shields us from a world functioning from the very prejudices that impact Black and brown communities around the globe. Marjua Estevez, refinery29.com, 24 Feb. 2022 In other words, the macrocosm of the cosmos is reflected in the microcosm of individual experience. Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, 6 Jan. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'macrocosm.' 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

borrowed from French & Medieval Latin; French macrocosme, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin macrocosmus, from macro- macro- + -cosmus, in microcosmus microcosm

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of macrocosm was in 1602

Dictionary Entries Near macrocosm

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

macrocosm

noun
mac·​ro·​cosm ˈmak-rə-ˌkäz-əm How to pronounce macrocosm (audio)
: the world as a whole : universe
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