Definition of METROPOLIS

metropolis

Meanings

Plural: metropoleis, metropoles, metropoli, metropolis's, metropolises, metropolisses, metropolizes

Noun

  • a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
  • people living in a large densely populated municipality
  • The mother (founding) polis (city state) of a colony.
  • A large, busy city, especially as the main city in an area or country or as distinguished from surrounding rural areas.
  • The see of a metropolitan bishop, ranking above its suffragan diocesan bishops.
  • A generic focus in the distribution of plants or animals.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin mētropolis, from Ancient Greek μητρόπολις (mētrópolis, “mother city”), from μήτηρ (mḗtēr, “mother”) + πόλις (pólis, “city (state)”). By surface analysis, metro- + -polis. Doublet of metropole.

Synonyms

archbishopric, city, metropole, metropolitan city, mother city, urban center

Scrabble Score: 14

metropolis is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
metropolis is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
metropolis is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 17

metropolis is a valid Words With Friends word