What does "cosmopolite" mean?
One who is at home in every place; a citizen of the world; a cosmopolitan person.
Cosmopolite
/kɑzˈmɑpəˌlaɪt/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who is at home in every place; a citizen of the world; a cosmopolitan person.
- Grammar: cosmopolite is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: adventurer, amphibian, annual, astronaut.
- Useful contrasts: anglophobe.
- Usage evidence: First drink a health, this solemn night, / A health to England, every guest: / That man’s the best cosmopolite / Who loves his native country best.
How to use "cosmopolite"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cosmopolite" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cosmopolite" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cosmopolite" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cosmopolite" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cosmopolite" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adventurer" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cosmopolite", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One who is at home in every place; a citizen of the world; a cosmopolitan person.
"First drink a health, this solemn night, / A health to England, every guest: / That man’s the best cosmopolite / Who loves his native country best."
- 2 a sophisticated person who has travelled in many countries wordnet
- 3 The butterfly painted lady (Vanessa cardui). Canada, US, dated
"The painted lady butterfly […] has been seen around towns throughout North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa. It's known on every continent except Antarctica, and it's even found on islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. […] Not surprisingly, the painted lady is known in some circles as the cosmopolite."
- 4 A plant found more or less everywhere in the world.
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to cosmopolites; cosmopolitan.
"International necessities are rapidly breaking down old prejudices and conservatisms, while developing cosmopolite feeling."
- 2 Oriented, exposed to or open to ideas and influences outside one's own social system or group.
"There was no middle course for Richard's comrades between high friendship or absolute slavery. He was deficient in those cosmopolite habits and feelings which enable boys and men to hold together without caring much for each other; and, like every insulated mortal, he attributed the deficiency, of which he was quite aware, to the fact of his possessing a superior nature."
- 3 Distributed throughout the world; having a wide geographical distribution.
"If, however, we consider the Australian dingo as a native animal, we might class the genus Canis as cosmopolite, but the wild dogs of South America are now formed into separate genera by some naturalists."
Antonyms
Example
"First drink a health, this solemn night, / A health to England, every guest: / That man’s the best cosmopolite / Who loves his native country best."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cosmopolite"?
Common synonyms include: adventurer, amphibian, annual, astronaut, biennial, biped.
How do you use "cosmopolite" in a sentence?
First drink a health, this solemn night, / A health to England, every guest: / That man’s the best cosmopolite / Who loves his native country best.
How do you pronounce "cosmopolite"?
Pronounced /kɑzˈmɑpəˌlaɪt/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French cosmopolite, from Latin cosmopolītēs, itself borrowed from Koine Greek κοσμοπολίτης (kosmopolítēs, “citizen of the world”), from Ancient Greek κόσμος (kósmos, “world”) + πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”).