Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cosmopolitanism” come from?

Cosmopolitanism derives from English cosmopolitan, from Ancient Greek κοσμοπολίτης, a compound of κόσμος meaning world and πόλις meaning city.

cosmopolitanism (English): The idea that all of humanity belongs to a single...

Definitions

  1. The idea that all of humanity belongs to a single...

Ancestry of “cosmopolitanism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishcosmopolitaninclusive; affecting the whole world; composed of...
2EnglishcosmopoliteOne who is at home in every place; a citizen of...
3Frenchcosmopolitecosmopolite; cosmopolitan
4Latincosmopolitescosmopolitan, cosmopolite; Cosmopolites
5Ancient Greekκοσμοπολίτηςcitizen of the world
6Ancient Greekπολίτηςcitizen, freeman; fellow citizen, compatriot
7Ancient Greekπόλιςcity; a whole country, as dependent on and called...
8Proto-Hellenicptóliscity
9Proto-Indo-EuropeantpólHis—
10Proto-Indo-EuropeantpelH-fortification, city
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tpelH- →