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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Short-term rental inventory continues to expand, and new downtown condos offer visitors a more urban option. Detroit News, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025 Increasing temperatures have also brought a call for better urban infrastructure, such as gathering spaces like Hoan Kiem Lake. Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025 Perhaps in response to demands from those of us in California, where the roads in urban and suburban areas can be truly horrendous, Pagani has added a super-soft mode thanks to the active suspension. Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 In 25 cities, at least 65% of the urban area was affected. Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for urban

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

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Cite this Entry

“Urban.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urban. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

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)

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