'metropolitan' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'mētēr' meaning 'mother' and 'polis' meaning 'city'.

'mētēr' and 'polis' combined to form the Greek word 'mētropolis', which evolved into the Latin 'metropolitanus', eventually becoming the modern English word 'metropolitan'.

Initially, it meant 'mother city', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'relating to a large city'.