microcosm

American  

[mahy-kruh-koz-uhm] / ˈmaɪ krəˌkɒz əm /

noun

• microcosms
  plural

1. a little world; a world in miniature (opposed to macrocosm).

   The human body is a microcosm.

2. anything regarded as a representative, miniature version of a larger complex reality.

   The fictional small town of Black Rock, California, serves as a microcosm of America in the postwar era.

3. Environmental Science. a controlled experimental environment or ecosystem small enough to be housed in a laboratory and reproducing conditions that occur on a larger scale in the outdoors.

   Researchers have investigated the survival of this bacteria in saline solutions and seawater in laboratory microcosms.

4. human beings, humanity, society, or the like, viewed as an epitome or miniature of the world or universe.

   In the human microcosm, intellect is the deep spiritual center of being.

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microcosm British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌkɒzəm /

noun

1. a miniature representation of something, esp a unit, group, or place regarded as a copy of a larger one

2. man regarded as epitomizing the universe

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microcosm Cultural  

1. A representation of something on a much smaller scale. Microcosm means “small world,” and in the thought of the Renaissance, it was applied specifically to human beings, who were considered to be small-scale models of the universe, with all its variety and contradiction. (Compare macrocosm.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• microcosmic
  adjective
• microcosmical
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• microcosms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of microcosm

First recorded in 1150–1200; micro- ( def. ) + -cosm ( def. )

Explanation

When you think of microcosm, picture your home town inside a snow globe. The teeny tiny city is a microcosm of the one you live in. It is that place in miniature. Microcosm can be used to describe anything that is a miniature representation of something else. Think of a specific event that symbolizes the way things always seems to go, like the way a kind act by your mom can represent the caring relationship you have with her. That weekend with your partner that started with laughter but ended in tears? That's a microcosm of the whole lousy relationship. The dance where you regretted your outfit, giggled with friends, annoyed a teacher, and missed your chance at dancing with your crush? A microcosm of high school.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

microcosm microcosms

The opener was a microcosm; Naderi robbing Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kelsy then picking out Neil for a sumptuous finish.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

In reality, he was an enterprising newspaperman whose passion for Hong Kong is a microcosm of his love for America.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

“Night Nurse” is more about the microcosm of this sleepy retirement community — where money and power still have influence, despite their stasis — than it is the outcome of Eleni and Douglas’ affair.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

Her family is a microcosm of the diaspora, she said, with her mother, an Iranian Christian, and other relatives of various faith backgrounds, including Baha’i, Zoroastrian, secular Muslim and Sufi expressions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026

I hope my experience will be a microcosm for readers, who will also appreciate art in direct proportion to the amount of knowledge they bring to it.

From "The Annotated Mona Lisa" by Carol Strickland and John Boswell

The undulating layers and microcosms that make up her jewelry’s signature “biomorphic” look extend into her fine art practice, as well.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 30, 2025

Her approach consists of combining aerosol and seawater samples with sediment records, satellite data and lab microcosms to pin down cause and effect.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2025

The second is that issues like trans health care, which is focused on a small and vulnerable community, can be microcosms of much bigger problems, and should be situated in context.

From Slate ● Jun. 23, 2025

“So why would we not shine a spotlight on sports that are microcosms of the real world? What I love about ultimate is that mixed isn’t combining two things. Ultimate is mixed, at its core.”

From BBC ● May 6, 2024

The differentiating process occurs in an order determined by the historic architecture of the microcosms, so that the proper determinants are liberated at the proper time for the modelling of the tissues and organs.

From The Biological Problem of To-day Preformation Or Epigenesis? The Basis of a Theory of Organic Development by Oscar Hertwig

Related Words

• earth
• nature