SKIP TO CONTENT

microcosmic

Other forms: microcosmically

You can describe a doll house as microcosmic, since it is a tiny representation of something larger — in this case, an actual house.

Something that's microcosmic reflects in miniature a larger object or idea. You can describe the Little Italy neighborhood of your city as microcosmic of the country of Italy, for example, or the dynamics of a preschool classroom as microcosmic of adult society. In fact, sociology — the study of how people act in societies — is where you're most likely to come across the adjective microcosmic. The word is rooted in two Greek words, mikros, "small," and kosmos, "world."

Definitions of microcosmic
  1. adjective
    relating to or characteristic of a microcosm
    “the microcosmic world of business”
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘microcosmic'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family