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Definition of montpellier
montpellier
/ˌmɑːntpɛlˈjeɪ/
Mont · pel · lier
montpellier Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A major city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea, serving as the capital of the Hérault department and historically renowned for its medieval architecture and one of the world's oldest universities.
Example
"She spent her semester abroad studying medicine at the historic university in Montpellier."
Word Nuance & Usage
Care must be taken to distinguish 'Montpellier' (with two 'l's, the city in France) from 'Montpelier' (with a single 'l', the capital city of the US state of Vermont).
• Rhymes for montpellier
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Old Occitan 'Monpeslièr', stemming from Medieval Latin 'Mons Pessulanus'. The exact origin is uncertain, though it is often theorized to mean 'naked hill' or relate to the historical cultivation of pastel (woad).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Montpellier. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/montpellier