noun
townie
TOW-nee
Townie (noun) means a person who lives in a town or city, especially as opposed to someone from the university or the countryside. Example: “The pub was full of townies rather than students that night.”
noun
1
A person who lives in a town or city, especially as opposed to someone from the university or the countryside.
"In the 1940′s, a social survey of Victorian country towns found a similar gap between the interests and outlooks of farmers and townies, and an underlying fear on the part of the townsfolk."
— Graeme Davison, Rural Sustainability in Historical Perspective (2002)
"Earlier, there would probably have been a grudge match between two townies, or locals."
— Jim Sharman, Blood & Tinsel: A Memoir (2008)
"The pub was full of townies rather than students that night."
"She always felt like a townie among her country-raised cousins."
"In that sense, the townies, not the farmers, were the inheritors of a pioneer capacity for hard work."
— Marc Brodie, Chapter 9: The Politics of Rural Nostalgia between the Wars (2005)
How to use townie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who lives in the town, used especially to contrast with students or people from rural areas.
When to use it
Informal, and in some contexts (university slang, or "townie vs. Charlestown" usage in the US) can carry a mildly dismissive or class-loaded tone.
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Word forms
- Plural
- townies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pub was full of _____ rather than students that night.
Etymology
Formed from (Charles)town and -ie.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
cocky ()
Related words
Rhymes for townie
See all rhymes for townie →Frequently asked questions
What does “townie” mean?
The word “townie” means a person who lives in a town or city, especially as opposed to someone from the university or the countryside. In plain terms, someone who lives in the town, used especially to contrast with students or people from rural areas.
How do you pronounce “townie”?
“Townie” is pronounced TOW-nee (/ˈtaʊni/ in IPA).
How do you use “townie” in a sentence?
Here is “townie” used in a sentence: “The pub was full of townies rather than students that night.”
What is the opposite of “townie”?
The opposite of “townie” — its antonyms — is cocky ().
What part of speech is “townie”?
“Townie” is a noun.
