cosmopolitan
UK[ˌkɒzməˈpɒlɪtən]US[ˌkɑːzməˈpɑːlɪtən]
adj
containing people from many different countries and influenced by their culture
adj
having wide international sophistication; free from local or national prejudices
n
a person who has lived in and feels at home in many different countries and cultures
Morpheme Breakdown
cosmo
polit
an
cosmo
world, universe
polit
city
an
relating to, belonging to
Etymology
the word 'cosmopolitan' is a direct borrowing from the greek 'kosmopolitēs', meaning 'citizen of the world'. it is a compound of 'kosmos' (world, universe) and 'politēs' (citizen, from 'polis', city). the ancient greek concept, notably championed by the cynic and stoic philosophers, posited that a wise person's allegiance should be to the entire human community rather than to a single city-state. entering english via french in the mid-17th century, the term evolved from this philosophical ideal to describe a person or place characterized by a wide, sophisticated, and inclusive international outlook, free from narrow national attachments.
Analysis
Structure: cosmo (world, universe) + polit (city) + an (relating to, belonging to)
cosmo originates from greek 'kosmos' meaning world, order, or universe. polit originates from greek 'polis' meaning city. an is a suffix of latin origin, forming adjectives meaning 'of, relating to, or belonging to'.
Examples
new york is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city.
his cosmopolitan upbringing allowed him to adapt easily to any culture.
she was a true cosmopolitan, fluent in four languages and at home on three continents.