Cosmopolitan

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌkɒz.məˈpɒl.ɪ.tən/

Definitions

1. Characterizing someone as being well-acquainted with multiple cultures, showcasing global sophistication and openness to diversity
2. Describing a location that embodies a mix of various cultural backgrounds, promoting harmony and coexistence among different traditions
3. A person who is familiar with and comfortable in many cultures worldwide ; a city or area known for its mixed cultural heritage and inclusive atmosphere

Etymology: Cosmopolitan began life as a noun before it ever described a person or a place. The Greek "kosmopolites" combined "kosmos" (world, order) with "polites" (citizen), so it meant a citizen of the world, someone not tied to a single city or nation. Diogenes the Cynic is traditionally credited with calling himself a "kosmopolites," a claim that makes the word one of the oldest expressions of rejecting narrow loyalties. The adjective came much later. It was formed in English from the noun "cosmopolite" with the suffix "-an," the same pattern that produced "metropolitan" and "megalopolitan." Its meaning was therefore shaped by the idea of a city: a cosmopolitan place is one that belongs to the wider world, full of people and influences from everywhere, rather than one that is merely large.

Synonyms: sophisticated, worldly, cultured

Antonyms: provincial, unsophisticated