urban
URBN
Urban (adj) means relating to, or located in, a city or town, as opposed to the countryside. Example: “Urban areas tend to have higher population density than rural ones.”
adj
1
Relating to, or located in, a city or town, as opposed to the countryside.
"Parkour – often referred to as freerunning – entails creatively moving through an urban environment: flipping, jumping and vaulting across various obstacles."
— Issy Ronald, Meet the parkour athletes defying fear and gravity at Red Bull Art of Motion (2022)
"Urban areas tend to have higher population density than rural ones."
"The charity focuses on urban poverty in major cities."
"Foxes have become a common sight in urban gardens."
How to use urban
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with cities and city life, in contrast to rural or suburban settings.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
urban area
urban development
urban sprawl
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more urban
- Superlative
- most urban
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ areas tend to have higher population density than rural ones.
Etymology
From Latin urbānus, "of a city," from urbs, "city" — the same root that gives us "suburb" and "urbane."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for urban
See all rhymes for urban →Frequently asked questions
What does “urban” mean?
The word “urban” means relating to, or located in, a city or town, as opposed to the countryside. In plain terms, to do with cities and city life, in contrast to rural or suburban settings.
How do you pronounce “urban”?
“Urban” is pronounced URBN (/ˈɜɹbən/ in IPA).
How do you use “urban” in a sentence?
Here is “urban” used in a sentence: “Urban areas tend to have higher population density than rural ones.”
What is the opposite of “urban”?
The opposite of “urban” — its antonyms — are bucolic, nonurban and rural.
What part of speech is “urban”?
“Urban” is an adjective.
Where does the word “urban” come from?
The word “urban” comes from Latin. From Latin urbānus, "of a city," from urbs, "city" — the same root that gives us "suburb" and "urbane.".
Is “urban” a common word?
“Urban” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between urban and urbane?
Urban describes anything relating to a city — urban traffic, urban planning. Urbane describes a person who is sophisticated, polished, and socially confident. Though both come from the Latin word for 'city,' urban is about place while urbane is about refined manners, so the two are not interchangeable at all.
What is the difference between urban and rural?
Urban refers to cities and towns — densely populated, built-up areas with plenty of infrastructure, shops, and transport. Rural refers to the countryside — open land, farms, villages, and low population density. They are direct opposites, describing the two broad settings in which people live and work.
What is the difference between urban and suburban?
Urban areas are the dense centre of a city, with tall buildings, busy streets, and constant activity. Suburban areas sit on the outskirts — quieter residential neighbourhoods surrounding the city, with houses, gardens, and more space. Suburbs bridge the gap between the fully urban core and the rural fringe.
What is an example of an urban area?
Cities such as London, New York, or Manchester are urban areas, along with their busy town centres. Anything marked by dense population, buildings, roads, shops, and public transport counts as urban — in clear contrast to farmland, villages, or open countryside, which are described as rural instead.
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