# cosmopolitan

/ˌkɑzməˈpɑɫətən/ (US) · /kˌɒzməpˈɒlɪtən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cosmopolitan
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. multicultural

adjective · CEFR B2

having people from many different parts of the world.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. worldly and experienced

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

feeling comfortable in many different countries and knowing a lot about different cultures.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. widely distributed

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

found in most parts of the world.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: In biology, this describes a species rather than a person or city.

### 4. a cocktail

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a pink alcoholic drink made with vodka, cranberry juice, and lime.

For teachers: 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.

Teaching tip: Often shortened to 'cosmo' in casual conversation.

## Examples

- London is a very cosmopolitan city with people from everywhere.
- Her cosmopolitan outlook on life comes from having lived in five different countries before the age of thirty.
- The port city's cosmopolitan atmosphere was a direct result of centuries of maritime trade, which brought together diverse linguistic, culinary, and religious traditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.