noun
microcosm
MEYE-kruh-koz-uhm
Microcosm (noun) means a small system or group that reflects, in miniature, the characteristics of a much larger one. Example: “The small town felt like a microcosm of the whole country's political divide.”
noun
1
A small system or group that reflects, in miniature, the characteristics of a much larger one.
"The small town felt like a microcosm of the whole country's political divide."
"The classroom became a microcosm of society, with all its friendships and rivalries."
How to use microcosm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small-scale version of something bigger, showing the same patterns in miniature.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a microcosm of society
a microcosm of the wider world
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Word forms
- Plural
- microcosms
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The small town felt like a _____ of the whole country's political divide.
Etymology
From Greek mikros ("small") plus kosmos ("world" or "universe") — literally a "small world," originally used to describe a human being as a miniature reflection of the universe.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “microcosm” mean?
The word “microcosm” means a small system or group that reflects, in miniature, the characteristics of a much larger one. In plain terms, a small-scale version of something bigger, showing the same patterns in miniature.
How do you pronounce “microcosm”?
“Microcosm” is pronounced MEYE-kruh-koz-uhm (/ˈmaɪ.kɹəˌkɑz.əm/ in IPA).
How do you use “microcosm” in a sentence?
Here is “microcosm” used in a sentence: “The small town felt like a microcosm of the whole country's political divide.”
What is the opposite of “microcosm”?
The opposite of “microcosm” — its antonyms — is macrocosm.
What part of speech is “microcosm”?
“Microcosm” is a noun.
Where does the word “microcosm” come from?
The word “microcosm” comes from Greek. From Greek mikros ("small") plus kosmos ("world" or "universe") — literally a "small world," originally used to describe a human being as a miniature reflection of the universe.
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