Definitions
01multicultural
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having people from many different parts of the world.
adj. composed of people, constituents, or elements from many different countries or cultures.
“London is a very cosmopolitan city where you can hear dozens of languages every day.”
“The port city developed a cosmopolitan atmosphere as merchants from across the Mediterranean settled there to trade goods and ideas.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02worldly and experienced
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. feeling comfortable in many different countries and knowing a lot about different cultures.
adj. having a wide and sophisticated experience of many different countries and cultures; not limited by local or national prejudices.
“She has a cosmopolitan outlook on life because she grew up in four different countries.”
“His cosmopolitan manners and fluency in several languages made him an ideal candidate for the diplomatic service.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03widely distributed
C2 · Proficiency Science Technical
adj. found in most parts of the world.
adj. having a distribution that spans most of the world's continents or oceans.
“The housefly is a cosmopolitan insect found on every continent except Antarctica.”
“Certain species of phytoplankton are truly cosmopolitan, thriving in diverse marine environments across both hemispheres.”
Synonyms
04a cocktail
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a pink alcoholic drink made with vodka, cranberry juice, and lime.
n. a cocktail typically consisting of vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed or sweetened lime juice.
“She ordered a cosmopolitan at the bar while waiting for her friends to arrive.”
“The bartender garnished the cosmopolitan with a twist of orange peel before sliding it across the polished counter.”
Synonyms
Usage
Often used to describe cities, magazines, or a person's general worldview. When describing a person, it implies sophistication and a lack of provincial prejudice.
Real-World Examples
“For Ghalib, Delhi was a cosmopolitan city where Hindus, Muslims and the British lived and worked side by side.” “As a working mother of two small children living a cosmopolitan lifestyle in Paris, Monica Ainley couldn’t get over the online “trad wife” phenomenon – a return to starkly defined gender roles: wives quietly and contentedly keep house while husbands control the purse strings.” “A cosmopolitan outlook does require us, at a minimum, to be alert to distant events and consider ways we might contribute to solutions.” “For example, common genetic variants associated with openness to experience were linked to a greater likelihood that someone would move to a more cosmopolitan neighborhood.” Etymology
From cosmopolit(e) + -an. Compare metropolitan and megalopolitan.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/cosmopolitan
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0