cosmopolitan

/ˌkɒz.məˈpɒl.ɪ.tən/

//ˌkɒz.məˈpɒl.ɪ.tən// adj

"cosmopolitan" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cosmopolitan” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #18,049 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#18,049
frequency rank, English
12
letters
18
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Inclusive; affecting the whole world.

Key facts for cosmopolitan
PropertyValue
Headwordcosmopolitan
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˌkɒz.məˈpɒl.ɪ.tən/
Letters12
Frequency rank#18,049
Misspellings tracked18
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cosmopolitan” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). cosmopolitan lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for cosmopolitan is 12 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌkɒz.məˈpɒl.ɪ.tən/. Corpus data places it at rank #18,049 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 18 likely wrong-spelling variants for cosmopolitan, with forms such as "ccosmopolitan", "comsopolitan", and "cosmmopolitan". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From cosmopolit(e) + -an. Compare metropolitan and megalopolitan. The correct English form is cosmopolitan, spelled C-O-S-M-O-P-O-L-I-T-A-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    Inclusive; affecting the whole world.
  2. 2
    Composed of people from all over the world.
  3. 3
    At ease in any part of the world; having a wide experience with many cultures.
  4. 4
    Growing or living in many parts of the world; widely distributed.

Etymology

From cosmopolit(e) + -an. Compare metropolitan and megalopolitan.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccosmopolitan,comsopolitan,cosmmopolitan,cosmooplitan,cosmoploitan,cosmopoiltan,cosmopoliatn,cosmopolitann,cosmopolitna,cosmopolittan,cosmopollitan,cosmopoltian,cosmoppolitan,cosmpoolitan,cosompolitan,cossmopolitan,csomopolitan,ocsmopolitan

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of cosmopolitan - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ccosmopolitan1comsopolitan2cosmmopolitan1cosmooplitan2cosmoploitan2cosmopoiltan2cosmopoliatn2cosmopolitann1
Edit distance from "cosmopolitan"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "cosmopolitan"?
"cosmopolitan" is spelled C-O-S-M-O-P-O-L-I-T-A-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌkɒz.məˈpɒl.ɪ.tən/.
What does "cosmopolitan" mean?
As an adjective, "cosmopolitan" means: Inclusive; affecting the whole world.
What are common misspellings of "cosmopolitan"?
Common misspellings include "ccosmopolitan", "comsopolitan", "cosmmopolitan", "cosmooplitan", "cosmoploitan". The correct spelling is "cosmopolitan".
How do you pronounce "cosmopolitan"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cosmopolitan" is /ˌkɒz.məˈpɒl.ɪ.tən/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "cosmopolitan"?
From cosmopolit(e) + -an. Compare metropolitan and megalopolitan. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “cosmopolitan”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-S-M-O-P-O-L-I-T-A-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌkɒz.məˈpɒl.ɪ.tən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list