Reading Theme:
Cosmopolitan: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：internationally diverse city (cosmopolitan)
cosmopolitan
/ˌkɒzməˈpɒlɪtən/
adj.
Describing a city or place that has people, cultures, and influences from many different parts of the world.
internationally diverse city
➕
/ɪn.təˌnæʃ.ən.ə.li daɪˈvɜːs ˈsɪt.i/
adj.
Used to describe a place, especially a large city, that contains a rich mixture of people, cultures, and global influences.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Greek 'kosmos' (world, universe) + 'politēs' (citizen). A citizen of the world.
💡 Mnemonic
COSMOS (universe) + POLITE (city person). Imagine a polite person comfortable anywhere in the cosmos.
📖 Example
Walking through the downtown area, you can hear dozens of languages and find restaurants serving food from every corner of the globe; it's a truly cosmopolitan city.
Walking through the downtown area, you can hear dozens of languages and find restaurants serving food from every corner of the globe; it's a truly cosmopolitan city.
🔗 Collocations
cosmopolitan city – a major city known for its international population and culture
cosmopolitan atmosphere – the feeling or character of a place being international and sophisticated
cosmopolitan outlook – a broad, global perspective often attributed to a city
🔄 Synonyms
international (adj.) – involving more than one country; has a similar global scope but less emphasis on cultural sophistication.
multicultural (adj.) – relating to or containing several cultural or ethnic groups; focuses on diversity.
global (adj.) – relating to the whole world; emphasizes scale over cultural mixture.
🚫 Antonyms
provincial (adj.) – relating to a province; narrow-minded or unsophisticated.
insular (adj.) – ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one's own experience.
parochial (adj.) – having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.
🌱 Derivatives
cosmopolitanism (n.) – the ideology that all human beings belong to a single community.
📖 Cultural Story
Originates from Greek philosophy (Diogenes the Cynic declared himself a 'kosmopolitēs'). Entered English via Latin to describe worldly cities and their sophisticated inhabitants.
Meaning 2：worldly and sophisticated person (cosmopolitan)
cosmopolitan
/ˌkɒzməˈpɒlɪtən/
adj.
Describing a person who has experience of many different places and cultures, and is therefore open-minded and sophisticated.
worldly and sophisticated person
➕
/ˌwɜːld.li ən səˈfɪs.tɪ.keɪ.tɪd ˈpɜː.sən/
adj.
Used to describe a person who is familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures, often seen as sophisticated and well-traveled.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
My friend Mia is so cosmopolitan; she's lived in four countries, speaks three languages fluently, and loves trying new and exotic foods.
My friend Mia is so cosmopolitan; she's lived in four countries, speaks three languages fluently, and loves trying new and exotic foods.
🔗 Collocations
cosmopolitan lifestyle – a way of living characterized by travel, exposure to diverse cultures, and sophistication
cosmopolitan tastes – preferences (e.g., in food, art) that are refined and influenced by global exposure
cosmopolitan individual – a person who embodies worldly experience and sophistication
🔄 Synonyms
worldly (adj.) – experienced and sophisticated, especially through extensive travel.
sophisticated (adj.) – having a great deal of worldly experience and knowledge of fashion and culture.
cultured (adj.) – characterized by refined taste and manners and good education.
🚫 Antonyms
unsophisticated (adj.) – lacking refined worldly knowledge or tastes.
narrow-minded (adj.) – not willing to listen to or tolerate other views; prejudiced.
provincial (adj.) – unsophisticated or narrow-minded, as if from a rural area.
🌱 Derivatives
cosmopolitan (n.) – a cosmopolite; a person who is cosmopolitan in lifestyle or outlook.
Wordbook
Your data is saved in this browser