conurbation

[ kon-er-bey-shuhn ]

noun

1. an extensive urban area resulting from the expansion of several cities or towns so that they coalesce but usually retain their separate identities.

conurbation

/ ˌkɒnɜːˈbeɪʃən /

noun

1. a large densely populated urban sprawl formed by the growth and coalescence of individual towns or cities

Word History and Origins

Origin of conurbation¹

con- + Latin urb- (stem of urbs ) “city, capital city, Rome” + -ation; coined by Sir Patrick Geddes (1854–1932), Scottish sociologist and city planner, in his Cities in Evolution (1915)

Word History and Origins

Origin of conurbation¹

C20: from con- + -urbation, from Latin urbs city; see urban

Example Sentences

The supplier serves about eight million people in homes and businesses in the West Midlands conurbation, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire, along with Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire.

From BBC

It will mean the cancellation of services in the West Midlands conurbation, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Staffordshire.

From BBC

"Linton-on-Ouse is not a major conurbation and has limited infrastructure which would struggle to support such an increased number."

From BBC

About 200 miles east of Algiers, Constantine, known to its Numidian founders as Cirta, is today a sprawling conurbation of more than 400,000 people.

From Washington Post

In Yuzhou city, part of Xuchang's conurbation, 1 million residents are already under lockdown, with people in some areas unable to leave their homes.

From Reuters

Related Words

• capital
• center
• downtown
• metropolis
• municipality
• place
• port