urban
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
related to a city or town, or the way people live in these places.
pertaining to, characteristic of, or located within a city or town, especially in contrast to rural areas.
Simple“The government is trying to improve urban transport by building more subway lines.”
In context“Urban planners must balance the need for high-density housing with the preservation of public green spaces to ensure a high quality of life.”
UsageCommonly used in compound nouns like 'urban planning', 'urban sprawl', or 'urban decay'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
a word sometimes used to describe modern music like hip-hop or R&B.
relating to contemporary popular culture and music, particularly genres like hip-hop, R&B, and reggae.
Simple“The radio station plays a mix of urban music and top 40 hits.”
In context“The term urban music has faced criticism for being a reductive label that obscures the diversity of Black musical genres.”
Teacher's tipIn recent years, this term has become controversial in the music industry as it is often seen as a euphemism for 'Black'; many artists and organizations now avoid it.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
sometimes used as a polite or indirect way to talk about Black people in cities.
used as a euphemism to refer to Black or African-American people, often in a sociological or political context.
Simple“The report discussed the challenges facing urban youth in the inner city.”
In context“Critics argue that using the word urban as a proxy for race allows speakers to avoid direct discussions about systemic inequality.”
UsageOften appears in academic or policy-related texts regarding 'urban populations'.
Teacher's tipLearners should be aware that this usage can be perceived as coded language or offensive depending on the intent and context.
Usage urban areas · urban centres · urban heat
“It’s about parking, says Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, who teaches urban planning at the University of Denver.”
“The Olto was designed to provide riders with the experience of a scooter while still allowing them to take advantage of the growing bike lane networks in many urban areas across the country.”
Latin Urbānus, name of eight early popes, from urbānus (“of the town or city, urbane”). Doublet of Orban.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.