Background:　Evidence　of　the　association　of　metabolic　syndrome　(MetS)　with　cancer　risk　is　accumulating.　However,　uncertainties　still　exist　as　to　the　link　of　MetS　with　bladder　cancer.　This　study　aimed　to　assess　the　relationship　between　MetS　and　the　risk　of　urothelial　carcinoma　of　the　bladder　(UC)　in　a　Chinese　population.　Methods:　We　retrospectively　analyzed　clinicopathological　data　of　972　newly　diagnosed　UC　patients　and　1098　cancer-free　controls　matched　to　the　cases　by　age　and　gender.　Odds　ratios　(ORs)　and　95　%　confidence　intervals　(CIs)　were　calculated　using　unconditional　logistic　regression　in　both　unadjusted　and　adjusted　models.　Results:　MetS　was　not　significantly　associated　with　the　overall　UC　risk　(p　=　0.08).　However,　a　significant　association　of　MetS　with　UC　was　observed　in　female　patients　(p　=　0.006).　Diabetes　mellitus　(crude　OR　1.339,　95　%　CI　1.079-1.662,　p　=　0.008;　adjusted　OR　1.767,　95　%　CI　1.308-2.386,　p　＜　0.001)　and　hypertriglyceridemia　(crude　OR　1.245,　95　%　CI　1.018-1.522,　p　=　0.033;　adjusted　OR　1.254,　95　%　CI　1.020-1.542,　p　=　0.032)　were　significantly　associated　with　UC　risk.　As　the　number　of　MetS　components　increased,　the　UC　risk　was　elevated.　Having　three　or　more　(versus　zero)　components　of　MetS　was　significantly　related　to　risk　of　overall　UC　(OR　1.315;　95　%　CI　1.006-1.719;　p　=　0.045)　and　non-muscle　invasive　bladder　cancer　(OR　1.354;　95　%　CI　1.019-1.798;　p　=　0.037).　Conclusions:　The　present　study　indicated　a　marginal　association　between　MetS　and　UC　risk,　and　a　significant　association　with　UC　risk　in　female　patients.　The　results　need　to　be　evaluated　in　large-scale　prospective　cohorts.