metropolis

noun

me·​trop·​o·​lis mə-ˈträ-p(ə-)ləs How to pronounce metropolis (audio)
1
: the chief or capital city of a country, state, or region
2
: the city or state of origin of a colony (as of ancient Greece)
3
a
: a city regarded as a center of a specified activity
an industrial metropolis
a cattle metropolis
b
: a large important city
one of Europe's great metropolises

Examples of metropolis in a Sentence

a big, teeming metropolis where ambitious people from all over come to make their mark
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An image of the Tokyo metropolis appeared on the screen and ATARASHII GAKKO! Billboard Japan, Billboard, 26 Mar. 2025 The southeastern metropolis of Shenzhen is taking steps toward updating its own pro-natal incentive, including by expanding access to child care services. David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025 Laborers from poorer regions of India, like Jharkhand and the adjoining states of Odisha and Bihar—my home state—flood into other parts of the country, particularly the metropolises, to work in the service industries and also a variety of menial jobs. Amitava Kumar, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025 The metropolis was populated by the aquatic descendants of pregnant African women who had been forced onto slave ships. Annalise Frank, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for metropolis

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin, from Greek mētropolis, from mētr-, mētēr mother + polis city — more at mother, police entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of metropolis was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Metropolis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metropolis. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

metropolis

noun
me·​trop·​o·​lis mə-ˈträp-(ə-)ləs How to pronounce metropolis (audio)
1
: the chief or capital city of a country, state, or region
2
: a large important city

More from Merriam-Webster on metropolis

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