urban

adjective

ur·​ban ˈər-bən How to pronounce urban (audio)
: of, relating to, characteristic of, or constituting a city

Examples of urban in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Harlem Renaissance was an urban phenomenon, and its leaders were distinctly self-conscious about the city as a site of creative exchange. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 From the beginning, the proposal identified two potential sites far from the urban core — property near Brown Field on Otay Mesa and another at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says coyotes are common throughout Michigan, in both rural and urban areas. Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024 According to the state water board, per-capita urban water use decreased by more than 20% between 2013 and 2022. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The researchers studied the DNA of people from 18 states and included people from both rural and urban areas. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 In response to critics who said that proposed new statewide water conservation rules — aimed at cutting urban water use even in years when California is not in a drought — were too complicated and costly, California water regulators on Tuesday unveiled new, more relaxed standards. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 The change would effectively weaken the power of urban residents’ votes and empower the votes of rural residents in statewide elections on constitutional amendments. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2024 However, both species have been seen together in the same flocks, underlining the importance of monitoring the birds for signs of hybridization that could undermine proposals to reintroduce urban parrots from Southern California to their native habitats in Mexico. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'urban.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin urbanus, from urbs city

First Known Use

circa 1634, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of urban was circa 1634

Dictionary Entries Near urban

Cite this Entry

“Urban.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urban. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

urban

adjective
ur·​ban ˈər-bən How to pronounce urban (audio)
: of, relating to, typical of, or being a city
urban life
an urban area

Biographical Definition

Urban

biographical name

Ur·​ban ˈər-bən How to pronounce Urban (audio)
name of 8 popes: especially II ( Odo ˈō-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce Urban (audio) of Lagery) circa 1035–1099 (pope 1088–99)

More from Merriam-Webster on urban

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