What's the actual difference between greater vs metro cities?

https://lemmy.world/post/15411189

What's the actual difference between greater vs metro cities? - Lemmy.World

I hear some cities call the larger area as metro (Vancouver) and other cities call it greater (Toronto). Is there a functional difference? Generally speaking, is one more urbanized than the other?

I’m not sure about actual functional definitions, but I think of it based on the size of the various cities involved. Metro seems to be used when referring to relatively large cities and towns that have blurred together to the point you move between them without distinct separation. Whereas Greater is applied when there is still a more clear separation between the core “big city” and the suburban towns around it.