macrocosm

[ mak-ruh-koz-uhm ]

/ ˈmæk rəˌkɒz əm /

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See synonyms for macrocosm on Thesaurus.com

noun

the great world or universe; the universe considered as a whole (opposed to microcosm).

the total or entire complex structure of something: the macrocosm of war.

a representation of a smaller unit or entity by a larger one, presumably of a similar structure.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of macrocosm

1590–1600; <French macrocosme<Medieval Latin macrocosmus.See macro-, cosmos

OTHER WORDS FROM macrocosm

mac·ro·cos·mic, adjectivemac·ro·cos·mi·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby macrocosm

macrocephalic, macrocephaly, macroclimate, macroclimatology, macrocode, macrocosm, macrocyclic, macrocyst, macrocyte, macrocytosis, macrodome

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use macrocosm in a sentence

You can see its effects in the macrocosm of HIV infections.
Prostitutes Are Scapegoated as HIV Panic Grips Athens|Barbie Latza Nadeau|June 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Does it stand to reason that the knowledge of ourselves should interest us less than that of the macrocosm, the external world?
Mysterious Psychic Forces|Camille Flammarion
In short, each monad is a kind of deity in itself—a microcosm representing all the great features of the macrocosm.
A History of Science, Volume 2(of 5)|Henry Smith Williams
The Nous is in fact the god within, and it bears to the microcosm Man the relation which the infinite God bears to the macrocosm.
Philo-Judaeus of Alexandria|Norman Bentwich

He thought that “each plant was in a sympathetic relation with the Macrocosm and consequently with the Microcosm.”
The Browning Cyclopdia|Edward Berdoe
The universe consists of three worlds; the archetypal (God), the macrocosm (the world), the microcosm (man).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5|Various

British Dictionary definitions for macrocosm

macrocosm

/ (ˈmækrəˌkɒzəm) /

noun

a complex structure, such as the universe or society, regarded as an entirety, as opposed to microcosms, which have a similar structure and are contained within it

any complex entity regarded as a complete system in itself

Compare microcosm

Derived forms of macrocosm

macrocosmic, adjectivemacrocosmically, adverb

Word Origin for macrocosm

C16: via French and Latin from Greek makros kosmos great world

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for macrocosm

macrocosm

A representation of something on a much larger scale. (Compare microcosm.)

macrocosm

Origin of macrocosm

OTHER WORDS FROM macrocosm

Words nearby macrocosm

Words related to macrocosm

How to use macrocosm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for macrocosm

Derived forms of macrocosm

Word Origin for macrocosm

Cultural definitions for macrocosm