inner city

noun

Synonyms of inner citynext
: the usually older, poorer, and more densely populated central section of a city
inner-city
ˈi-nər-ˈsi-tē How to pronounce inner city (audio)
adjective

Examples of inner city in a Sentence

The mayor is trying to attract new businesses to the inner city.
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.
The 6,000-square-foot Sanctuary store introduced the brand’s wellness program locally, which included a candlelit yoga experience at Tempodrom, a popular inner city concert venue. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026 Car & Rideshare Services Within the inner city, skip the hassle and call a car; rideshare services like Uber and DiDi are everywhere. — Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2026 In the aftermath of Sacco and Vanzetti, many Italian-Americans shifted towards the center and then the right as many white ethnics moved from the inner city into the suburbs. — Ed Simon, JSTOR Daily, 7 Oct. 2026 Nearly 90% of low-income inner city residents in one Emory University study have experienced trauma. — Maayan Aviv, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inner city

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inner city was in 1953

Rhymes for inner city

See All Rhymes for inner city

Browse Nearby Words

inner circle
inner city
inner closure
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inner city.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inner%20city. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

inner city

noun
: the usually older and more heavily populated central section of a city
inner-city adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on inner city

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inner city

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inner city

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