Cosmopolitan
[ˌkɒzməˈpɒlɪtən]
Definitions
2 meaningsCharacterized by people, influences, or elements from many different parts of the world; sophisticated.
[ˌkɒzməˈpɒlɪtən]
Including people from many different countries and cultures.
The restaurant offers a cosmopolitan menu featuring dishes from around the globe.
💡 Simply: Imagine a party where everyone's invited, no matter where they're from or what they like. A cosmopolitan place or person is like that: open to the world and all its different flavors and ideas. Like a super-cool global village!
👶 For kids: When lots of people from different countries and places live together in a city or area.
More Examples
His cosmopolitan outlook allowed him to easily adapt to different cultures.
The university has a cosmopolitan student body.
How It's Used
"New York City is a cosmopolitan city with a diverse population."
"She enjoys visiting cosmopolitan destinations with a variety of cultural experiences."
A person who has lived in many different countries and cultures.
[ˌkɒzməˈpɒlɪtən]
A person who has wide international experience and outlook.
The diplomat was known as a cosmopolitan.
💡 Simply: A cosmopolitan is like a world traveler, someone who's lived in and experienced different countries and cultures. They're usually pretty open-minded and enjoy meeting all sorts of people.
👶 For kids: Someone who knows and loves things from all over the world.
More Examples
As a cosmopolitan, she felt at home anywhere in the world.
He’s a cosmopolitan who embraces different cultures.
How It's Used
"She's a true cosmopolitan, having lived and worked in several countries."
From Greek *kosmopolitēs* (κοσμοπολίτης) meaning 'citizen of the world', from *kosmos* (κόσμος, 'world') and *politēs* (πολίτης, 'citizen'). It reflects the philosophical idea of universal brotherhood and global citizenship.
The word 'cosmopolitan' was used in philosophical contexts from the early modern period, reflecting the Enlightenment ideals of universal citizenship and internationalism.
Memory tip
Think of a globe. Cosmopolitan people embrace the world and all its cultures.
Word Origin
"world"