English Reference
adjective · noun

metropolitan

adj. · n.
US /ˌmɛtɹəˈpɑɫətən/ UK /mˌɛtɹəpˈɒlɪtən/ met·ro·pol·i·tan

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.relating to a large city and the smaller towns or areas that surround it.

    adj.pertaining to a metropolis or a large urban settlement, including its immediate suburban hinterland.

    Simple

    The metropolitan area has a great public transport system that connects the suburbs to the city centre.

    In context

    Planners are struggling to manage the rapid expansion of the metropolitan district as more people migrate from rural provinces in search of employment.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    adj.relating to the main part of a country rather than its overseas territories or colonies.

    adj.pertaining to the parent state of a colony or territory, or the home country as distinct from its dependencies.

    Simple

    The laws in metropolitan France are sometimes different from those in its overseas islands.

    In context

    The treaty distinguished between the rights of citizens living in the metropolitan territory and those residing in the distant administrative colonies.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency FormalTechnical Religion

    n.a high-ranking leader in some Christian churches who has authority over other bishops.

    n.a bishop with oversight of a province or see, typically ranking as an archbishop within Eastern Orthodox or Roman Catholic hierarchies.

    Simple

    The Metropolitan led the special service at the cathedral on Sunday morning.

    In context

    The Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church issued a formal decree regarding the administration of the new parishes in the northern province.

    archbishopprelate
  4. 04 C1 Advanced Literary

    n.a person who lives in a large city.

    n.an inhabitant of a metropolis, often implying a person with sophisticated or urban tastes.

    Simple

    As a lifelong metropolitan, she found the quiet of the countryside quite strange.

    In context

    The author writes for the sophisticated metropolitan who enjoys the fast-paced lifestyle of a global capital.

    city dwellerurbanite

Usage metropolitan area

Security operations have constrained gang activity in parts of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, including Delmas and Tabarre.

UN News· 25 Aug 2026

This refers to people earning between 80% and 120% of the area median income , or the middle household income for a given metropolitan region.

The Conversation· 20 Aug 2026

From Late Latin metropolitanus, from Ancient Greek μητροπολίτης (mētropolítēs).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek μητροπολίτης
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated