'metropolitan' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'mētropolitēs,' where 'mētēr' meant 'mother' and 'polis' meant 'city.'

'mētropolitēs' transformed into the Latin word 'metropolitanus,' and eventually became the modern English word 'metropolitan' through Old French.

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