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urban

adjective
SayUR-buhnUS/ˈɜɹbən/UK/ˈɜːb(ə)n/

3 meanings of urban

Practice

  1. 1
    adjective
    Connected with a city or town, its people, or the officials who run it, rather than the countryside.

    Like the busy streets of a big city, not the quiet fields out in the country.

    The downtown streets had a busy urban feel at night.

    Many families move from quiet villages to urban areas to find work.

    UsageUse it before a noun: urban life. Urbane is a different word: polite.

    Similarmetropolitan

    Oppositerural, rustic

  2. 2
    Black musicadjectivedatedUS
    Used to describe things connected with African American culture today, especially music.

    The radio show played urban music like rap and soul.

    He won an award for the best urban album of the year.

    UsageBetter to name the music: hip-hop or R&B.

    Note
  3. 3
    Black (offensive)adjectiveoffensiveeuphemistic
    An indirect and offensive way of saying that a person who lives somewhere is Black or African American.

    UsageDon't use it this way. Say Black if race matters.

    Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin urbanus, meaning "of a city," from urbs, "city." It may have come into English through French.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts