metroplex

Metroplex is a term used to describe a large, polycentric metropolitan region that includes multiple cities and urban cores, typically linked by transportation networks and shared economic activity. In planning and geography, it denotes a networked urban system rather than a single city, emphasizing the interdependence of surrounding municipalities within a broad metropolitan area.

In popular usage, the term is closely associated with the Dallas–Fort Worth area in North Texas. The Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex refers to the sprawling region anchored by Dallas and Fort Worth and extending into surrounding counties. It is one of the largest urban regions in the United States by population and economic activity, reflecting a dense web of commuting patterns, infrastructure, and regional services.

Metroplex is also the name of a fictional Autobot from the Transformers media franchise. Debuting in the late 1980s, Metroplex is a colossal city-sized robot capable of transforming into a fortified city and serving as a base of operations for Autobots within various continuities.

Beyond these uses, Metroplex can appear in academic or commercial naming as a generic term for large polycentric regions or as a brand identifier. There is no single universal definition beyond the core idea of an expansive metropolitan complex that encompasses multiple cities and urban centers.