# urban fabric

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/urban-fabric
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The physical aspect of urbanism, emphasizing building types, thoroughfares, open space, frontages, and streetscapes but excluding environmental, functional, economic and sociocultural aspects.

## Examples

- The new park adds beauty to the city's urban fabric.
- The architect carefully designed the new building to blend into the existing urban fabric of the historic district.
- By prioritizing pedestrian walkways and mixed-use spaces, the city planners sought to repair the fragmented urban fabric that had been damaged by decades of highway expansion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.