urbanization

[ ur-buh-nuh-zey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or fact of urbanizing, or taking on the characteristics of a city:

   Urbanization has led to more air pollution and increasing childhood asthma.

urbanization

1. The process by which cities grow or by which societies become more urban.

Other Words From

• over·urban·i·zation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of urbanization¹

urbaniz(e) + -ation

Example Sentences

He described climate change and immigration as parts of the same problem and decried “rampant urbanization and industrialization, ever expanding cities and shrinking forests, a complete removal of man from nature.”

From Salon

There is little knowledge of local fauna, Rinderknecht remarks, and coastal ecosystems have become a “disaster” due to urbanization.

From Salon

It is common to hear complaints that hasty urbanization is causing big-city problems — relatively speaking.

From Los Angeles Times

“If the government could manage this rapid urbanization properly in greater Jakarta, then we wouldn’t need to move,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

In this case, the trout almost certainly can’t reach the ocean — even though some may try — because of the trappings of urbanization.

From Los Angeles Times