urbanism

noun

ur·​ban·​ism ˈər-bə-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce urbanism (audio)
1
: the characteristic way of life of city dwellers
2
a
: the study of the physical needs of urban societies
b
: city planning
3
: urbanization

Examples of urbanism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The film examines urbanism and architecture and lives up to its title by chronicling the history of concrete in an absurdist fashion (Wilson tries to make the film in the style of a Hallmark movie). — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026 Architectura & Natura Shelves at this nine-decade-old bookstore on the Leliegracht canal are devoted to architecture, urbanism, gardens, landscape, and the natural world—an unusually broad remit that rewards browsing. — John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2026 The magazine’s urbanity lay in the anti-urbanism of its singular voices. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 Developments in housing, retail and urbanism keep pushing inward. — Remy Raisner, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for urbanism

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of urbanism was in 1884

Browse Nearby Words

urbanisation
urbanism
urbanist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Urbanism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urbanism. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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