metrosexual

The term is a modern portmanteau, coined in 1994 by British journalist Mark Simpson by blending "metropolitan" and "sexual." The "metro-" element, derived from the Greek for "mother" (mētēr) which evolved to mean the "mother city" or metropolis, evokes the sophisticated, fashion-conscious culture of a major city. The "-sexual" component, from Latin sexus, anchors the word in the lexicon of identity and orientation, though here it is used ironically to denote a lifestyle preoccupation rather than a literal sexual orientation. Thus, the word's logic constructs a new social category: a man whose primary aesthetic allegiance is to urban consumer culture, playfully framed as a "sexuality."

Structure: metro (city) + sexual (relating to sex) - metro: From Greek mētēr (mother), via French métropolitain (of a metropolis). In this word, it is a clipping of "metropolis," functioning to denote an urban, sophisticated lifestyle. - sexual: From Latin sexus (sex, gender), with the suffix -alis forming an adjective. In this word, it functions to denote a characteristic or orientation related to sex or sexuality.