Metropolitan has 6 different meanings across 3 categories:
Noun · Adjective · Proper Noun
in the Eastern Orthodox Church this title is given to a position between bishop and patriarch; equivalent to archbishop in western Christianity
"The metropolitan of Moscow oversaw the dioceses within his jurisdiction, holding a rank just below that of the patriarch."
a person who lives in a metropolis
"As a metropolitan, he preferred the subway to traffic jams."
A bishop empowered to oversee other bishops; an archbishop.
"The metropolitan convened a council of all the diocesan bishops within his province to address the new canon laws."
In plain English: A metropolitan is an official who manages the government of a large city and its surrounding suburbs.
"The metropolitan represents the city's business interests in the council."
Usage: In everyday conversation, metropolitan functions as an adjective describing major cities or urban areas rather than serving as a noun for a church title. Use it correctly by modifying nouns like "politics" or "area" to indicate a large city setting, such as in "the metropolitan region."
Pertaining to the see or province of a metropolitan.
"The bishop addressed the letter as being sent from his metropolitan province rather than just his individual diocese."
In plain English: Metropolitan describes something related to a large city and its surrounding suburbs.
"The metropolitan area has grown significantly over the last decade."
Usage: In everyday usage, metropolitan describes something related to or characteristic of a large city and its surrounding suburbs. Avoid using it to refer strictly to a bishop's ecclesiastical jurisdiction unless discussing church hierarchy.
The Metropolitan Line of London Underground, which has its ancestry in the Metropolitan Railway.
"She bought a season pass specifically for the Metropolitan Line to commute from her home in Amersham into central London."
The word comes from the Ancient Greek mētropolítēs and entered English via Late Latin. Originally referring to a bishop who leads a major city diocese, it now describes anything related to or governing a large city.