Cosmopolitan
/ˌkɑːzməˈpɑːlɪtən/
adjectivenounC1
Definition
Cosmopolitan means having experience with many different cultures or countries. It can describe a person who knows about and feels comfortable with many cultures, or a city or place where people from many countries live and mix together.
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See It in Action
(Adjective) Describes a person or place that includes or knows many cultures.
- •She has a cosmopolitan outlook because she has traveled to many countries.
- •New York City is very cosmopolitan with people from all over the world.
- •The restaurant offers a cosmopolitan menu with dishes from many countries.
(Noun) A person who is comfortable in many cultures or countries.
- •He is a true cosmopolitan who has lived on four continents.
- •As a cosmopolitan, she enjoys meeting people from different backgrounds.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "cosmopolitan" like "world" or "global," but describing people or places that include many cultures together, not just the planet itself.
- ✓Picture a big city with streets full of people speaking many languages, eating different foods, and celebrating many traditions.
- ✓It’s the feeling of being comfortable and open in a place where many cultures meet, like in a busy airport or international festival.
- ✓Sounds like "cosmo-POL-it-an" → imagine a polite person ("polite") who knows the whole "cosmos" (world/universe) and welcomes everyone.
- ✓Think of famous cities like New York or London, where people from many countries live and work together.
- ✓NOT like "local" (only from one small place), but "cosmopolitan" means many places and cultures are included.
- ✓NOT like "simple" or "small"—cosmopolitan is big, complex, and full of variety.
- ✓As a noun, a "cosmopolitan" can also mean a person who feels at home anywhere in the world.
Try Other Words
- •Worldly: having experience of many parts of the world (Use when focusing on personal experience and knowledge)
- •Multicultural: involving many cultures together (Use when emphasizing cultural diversity in a place or group)
- •Global: relating to the whole world (Use when talking about things that affect or include the entire world)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "cosmo-" (world, universe) + "politan" (from Greek "polis" meaning city) → meaning "world city" or "citizen of the world"
- •Etymology: From Greek "kosmopolitēs," meaning a person who belongs to the world, not just one city or country
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe people who felt they belonged to the whole world rather than one place; later used for cities and cultures mixing many peoples
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people, places, or things that are international, open to many cultures, or connected to the whole world
Reflect & Connect
•How does being cosmopolitan help a person understand and accept different cultures?
•Can a place be cosmopolitan without being a big city? What might that look like?
Fill in the blanks
1.A cosmopolitan person often feels comfortable ___ many different cultures and places.
2.Cities like London are called cosmopolitan because they have ___ people from around the world.
3.Unlike a small town, a cosmopolitan city has ___ cultural traditions and languages.
4.When someone travels a lot and learns about many countries, they become more ___.
5.A cosmopolitan menu might include dishes ___ Italian, Chinese, and Mexican food.
6.She speaks several languages, so she is very ___ in international meetings.
7.If a place is not cosmopolitan, it probably has ___ cultural diversity and fewer international visitors.