CultureSeptember 1, 2026

cosmopolitanism

koz-muh-POL-ih-tih-zum

Definition

The quality of being familiar with, representative of, or at ease in many different cultures and countries.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'kosmopolitēs', meaning 'citizen of the world', which combines 'kosmos' (world) and 'politēs' (citizen).

In the news

The article credits the film distributor Contemporary Films with fostering a sense of cosmopolitanism by introducing British audiences to international cinema beyond Hollywood and standard British movies. This helped bridge cultural gaps during a time when domestic viewers had limited exposure to foreign perspectives.

‘Not just Hollywood crap’: Mike Leigh on the distributor who brought world cinema to the UK

Read the full article ↗

The Guardian

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