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definitions

cosmopolite

[ koz-mop-uh-lahyt ]
/ kɒzˈmɒp əˌlaɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cosmopolite ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who is cosmopolitan in his or her ideas, life, etc.; citizen of the world.
an animal or plant of worldwide distribution.

RELATED WORDS

voter, civilian, resident, national, settler, inhabitant, taxpayer, villager, dweller, commoner, aborigine, denizen, subject, householder, occupant, native, burgher, burgess, townsperson, urbanite

Nearby words

  1. cosmonaut,
  2. cosmonautics,
  3. cosmopolis,
  4. cosmopolitan,
  5. cosmopolitanize,
  6. cosmos,
  7. cosmotron,
  8. cosplay,
  9. cosponsor,
  10. coss

Origin of cosmopolite

1590–1600; < Greek kosmopolī́tēs citizen of the world, equivalent to kosmo- cosmo- + polī́tēs citizen (pól(is) a city, state + -ītēs -ite1)
Related formscos·mop·o·lit·ism, nounnon·cos·mop·o·lite, nounnon·cos·mop·o·lit·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cosmopolite

British Dictionary definitions for cosmopolite

cosmopolite

/ (kɒzˈmɒpəˌlaɪt) /

noun

a less common word for cosmopolitan (def. 1)
an animal or plant that occurs in most parts of the world
Derived Formscosmopolitism, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cosmopolite

cosmopolite

n.

late 16c., "man of the world; citizen of the world," from Greek kosmopolites "citizen of the world," from kosmos "world" (see cosmos) + polites "citizen" (see politic). In common use 17c. in a neutral sense; it faded out in 18c. but was revived from c.1800 with a tinge of reproachfulness (opposed to patriot).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper