metropolitan
5 synonyms and 1 antonyms for metropolitan, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Relating to a large city or its surrounding urban area.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Antonyms
How to use metropolitan
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Late Latin metropolitanus, from Greek mētropolitēs, ultimately from metropolis.
Full origin of metropolitan →Frequently asked questions
What does “metropolitan” mean?
The word “metropolitan” means relating to a large city or its surrounding urban area. In plain terms, to do with a big city and its surrounding area.
How do you pronounce “metropolitan”?
“Metropolitan” is pronounced meht-ruh-PO-lih-tuhn (/ˌmɛtɹəˈpɑlɪtən/ in IPA).
How do you use “metropolitan” in a sentence?
Here is “metropolitan” used in a sentence: “The metropolitan police cover the whole greater city area.”
What is the opposite of “metropolitan”?
The opposite of “metropolitan” — its antonyms — is non-metropolitan.
What part of speech is “metropolitan”?
Depending on how it is used, “metropolitan” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “metropolitan” come from?
The word “metropolitan” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin metropolitanus, from Greek mētropolitēs, ultimately from metropolis.
Is “metropolitan” a common word?
“Metropolitan” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “metropolitan” have?
“Metropolitan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to a large city or its surrounding urban area.
What is the difference between "metropolitan" and "urban"?
"Metropolitan" relates to a large city together with its surrounding suburbs and towns, forming a wider region, while "urban" simply means relating to a city or town as opposed to the countryside. A metropolitan area can include both urban and suburban parts.
What is the difference between "metropolitan" and "cosmopolitan"?
"Metropolitan" describes something relating to a large city or its region, while "cosmopolitan" describes something or someone worldly, international, and made up of people from many cultures. A metropolitan area is defined by size; a cosmopolitan one by diversity.
What is a "metropolitan" in a church context?
In some Christian churches, a "metropolitan" is a senior bishop who oversees other bishops within a wider region or province. This use is a noun and is separate from the everyday adjective meaning "relating to a big city."
What are common words that go with "metropolitan"?
The adjective often pairs with "area," "police," "district," and "region," as in "metropolitan area" and "Metropolitan Police." These describe a large city and the territory around it.