urban

[ ur-buhn ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating a city or town:

   densely populated urban areas.

2. living, located, or taking place in a city:

   urban rooftop gardening.

3. characteristic of or accustomed to cities; citified:

   He’s an urban type—I can’t picture him enjoying a whole week at our cabin in the woods.

4. of or relating to the experience, lifestyle, or culture of African Americans living in economically depressed inner-city neighborhoods:

   Their first album had a hard, urban vibe.

5. Offensive. (used as a euphemism for Black or African American, rather than in reference to cities or their residents):

   a drug problem that particularly impacts the urban residents in this small town.

urban

/ ˈɜːbən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or constituting a city or town
2. living in a city or town
3. (of music) emerging and developing in densely populated areas of large cities, esp those populated by people of African or Caribbean origin Compare rural

Other Words From

• anti·urban adjective
• non·urban adjective
• semi·urban adjective
• un·urban adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of urban¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin urbānus, equivalent to urb- (stem of urbs ) “city” + -ānus adjective suffix; -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of urban¹

C17: from Latin urbānus, from urbs city

Example Sentences

"Previous research has shown depression, anxiety, obesity and heatstroke are more prevalent in urban areas that lack access to shady tree canopy and green open spaces," said Croeser, from RMIT's Centre for Urban Research.

From Science Daily

In addition, this community-led urban transformation project spread to neighboring areas.

From Science Daily

Trump, whose Republican Party will control both the House and Senate in January, has said that he will seek a national ban on urban camping.

From Los Angeles Times

"But declining levels of phosphorus, particularly in rivers flowing through urban areas, suggests that efforts to control phosphorus pollution from point sources such as wastewater treatment plants are working."

From Science Daily

Part 2, “Painter-God,” is the more satisfying, zeroing in on the experimentation that drove his unique art and engineering, which fantasized flying machines, weapons of war and designs for urban infrastructure.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• civic
• civil
• downtown
• metropolitan