cosmo-
Americancombining form
Usage
What does cosmo- mean? Cosmo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “world” or "universe." In some cases, it represents "outer space."Cosmo- comes from the Greek kósmos, variously meaning “order, good order, government, world order, the universe.” The Greek kósmos is ultimately the source of the English words cosmos, cosmic, cosmopolitan, and cosmetics, among others. What does makeup have to do with the universe? Find out at our entry for the word. What are variants of cosmo-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, cosmo- becomes cosm-, as in cosmism. When used as the final element of a compound word, cosmo- becomes -cosm, as is microcosm.
Etymology
Origin of cosmo-
From Greek kosmo-, combining form of kósmos “order, good order, government, world order, the universe”; see origin at cosmos
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 1967 the company released the Cosmo Sport 110S, a car legendary for its styling if not its reliability.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Cosmo and Veradermics both have important milestones this year.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026
Vera Papisova, describing herself as "Republican-curious," spent a year meeting men on a right-wing dating app and wrote about it for Cosmo.
From Salon • Apr. 21, 2025
"We could run our business from anywhere but we choose to run it from here," said Mr Matthews, who thinks Anglesey is a nicer place to bring up his child Cosmo with wife Emily.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2025
Lexie, who had been coming down the hall with the latest Cosmo and a Diet Coke in hand, had stopped outside the doorway, just out of view, and watched her.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
