Word: cosmopolitan (adjective, sometimes noun)

Associations

The word "cosmopolitan" relates to being familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures. It often describes people, places, or things that are worldly, diverse, and open-minded.

• Example 1: "New York City is a cosmopolitan city." This means New York has many cultures and people from all over the world.
• Example 2: "She has a cosmopolitan attitude." This means she is open and comfortable with different cultures.
• Example 3: "Cosmopolitan magazines cover global fashion and lifestyle." Here, "Cosmopolitan" is also a magazine name, reflecting its worldly content.

Synonym: "worldly" is similar but focuses more on experience with the world, while "cosmopolitan" emphasizes diversity and openness to many cultures.

Substitution

Instead of "cosmopolitan," you can use:

• "international" (focuses more on involving many countries)
• "multicultural" (focuses more on many cultures together)
• "worldly" (focuses on experience and knowledge of the world)

Each changes the meaning slightly. For example, "multicultural city" means a city with many cultures, but "cosmopolitan city" also suggests openness and sophistication.

Deconstruction

"Cosmopolitan" comes from Greek roots:

• "cosmo-" means "world" or "universe"
• "-politan" comes from "polis," meaning "city" Together, it means "citizen of the world" or someone who belongs to the whole world, not just one city or country.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a city you know that is cosmopolitan? Why?
• How would you describe a person who is cosmopolitan?
• Do you think being cosmopolitan is important in today’s world? Why or why not?