Metropolitan
/ˌmɛtrəˈpɒlɪtən/
Definitions
2 meaningsRelating to or characteristic of a metropolis; of or in a large city.
/ˌmɛtrəˈpɒlɪtən/
Relating to a large city or urban area.
The metropolitan museum houses an impressive collection of art.
💡 Simply: Imagine a really big city, like New York or London, and everything that goes with it, like all the buildings, people, and activities. 'Metropolitan' is the word we use to describe things that belong to that big city and its surrounding areas. Think of it as a super-sized town.
👶 For kids: A metropolitan area is a big city and all the places around it, like the suburbs.
More Examples
The city's metropolitan transportation system is improving.
She lives in a metropolitan area with many cultural attractions.
How It's Used
"The metropolitan area includes the city and its surrounding suburbs."
"The study focused on the metropolitan regions experiencing rapid population growth."
A bishop or archbishop of the principal see of a province or country.
/ˌmɛtrəˈpɒlɪtən/
A person, usually a bishop, in charge of a metropolis.
The metropolitan will preside over the church's synod.
💡 Simply: Imagine a very important religious leader, someone like a bishop in charge of a whole area with many churches. This leader is a 'metropolitan'. They're like the boss of all the churches in that specific region.
👶 For kids: A metropolitan is like a super important religious leader in a big area.
More Examples
The metropolitan's authority extends over a wide geographical area.
The new metropolitan was installed with great ceremony.
How It's Used
"The metropolitan oversaw the affairs of several dioceses in the region."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
metropolitan area
The region including a city and its surrounding suburbs and towns, generally used for economic or statistical purposes.
"The metropolitan area has seen a significant increase in population."
metropolitan center
The core city or area within a metropolitan region.
"The metropolitan center is the hub of the city's cultural activities."
From Late Latin *metropolitanus*, from Greek *mētrópolis* (metropolis, 'mother city'), referring to a city or region's administrative center. The word reflects the historical context of the Roman and Greek Empires, where the metropolitan center was the primary administrative and cultural hub.
The term 'metropolitan' dates back to ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, where it referred to the most important city within a region, the administrative and cultural center.
Memory tip
Think of a *metro* system; that's how you move around a big *politan* city.
Word Origin
"mother city (mētrópolis)"