1. Pertinent or common to the whole world: "An issue of cosmopolitan import."
2. Having constituent elements from all over the world or from many different parts of the world: "The ancient and cosmopolitan societies of Syria and Egypt."
3. So sophisticated as to be at home in all parts of the world or conversant with many spheres of interest: "A cosmopolitan traveler."
4. In ecology, growing or occurring in many parts of the world; widely distributed.

This conception is contrasted with ideologies of patriotism and nationalism. Cosmopolitanism may or may not entail some sort of world government or it may simply refer to more inclusive moral, economic, and/or political relationships between nations or individuals of different nations.