macrocosm

M3A1C3R1O1C3O1S1M3
UK/ˈmæk.ɹə(ʊ)ˌkɒz.əm/US/ˈmæk.ɹəˌkɑz.əm/

noun

A complex structure, such as a society, considered as a single entity that contains numerous similar, smaller-scale structures.

Similar
universeexistencecreationworldcosmos
Opposite
microcosm
OriginMiddle French macrocosme ← Old French macrocosme ← Medieval Latin macrocosmus →
UncommonScrabble 17
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Meanings

nounmacrocosm (plural macrocosms)

plural macrocosms

  1. human sciencesA complex structure, such as a society, considered as a single entity that contains numerous similar, smaller-scale structures.
  2. The universe.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
microcosm

nouneverything that exists anywhere

Similar
universeexistencecreationworldcosmos
Broader
natural object
Also see
cosmoscreationexistenceuniverseworld

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekμακρός“great, long”
  2. Medieval Latinmacrocosmus
  3. Old Frenchmacrocosme
  4. Middle Frenchmacrocosme
  5. Englishmacrocosm

From Middle French macrocosme (from Old French macrocosme) and Medieval Latin macrocosmus, formed from Ancient Greek μακρός (makrós, “great, long”) + κόσμος (kósmos, “universe, order”).

More words from Middle French, Old French, Medieval Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 大宇宙
  • 大宇宙 (dàyǔzhòu)a complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Dutch macrokosmos
  • macrokosmosa complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
French macrocosme
  • macrocosmea complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
German Makrokosmos
  • Makrokosmosa complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Greek μακρόκοσμος
  • μακρόκοσμος (makrókosmos)a complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Indonesian makrokosmos
  • makrokosmosa complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Italian macrocosmo
  • macrocosmoa complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Japanese 大宇宙
  • 大宇宙 (daiuchū)a complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Portuguese macrocosmo
  • macrocosmoa complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Romanian macrocosm, macrocosmos
  • macrocosma complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
  • macrocosmosa complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Russian макроко́см
  • макроко́см (makrokósm)a complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Spanish macrocosmo
  • macrocosmoa complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Tagalog makrokosmo
  • makrokosmoa complex structure containing numerous smaller-scale structures
Cite this entry
APA

macrocosm. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/macrocosm

MLA

“macrocosm.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/macrocosm. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “macrocosm,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/macrocosm.

Source: macrocosm on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.