urbanism

U1R1B3A1N1I1S1M3
/ˈɜː(ɹ)bənɪzəm/

noun

The study of cities, their geographic, economic, political, social, and cultural environment.

Similar
urbiculture
OriginEnglish urban ← Latin urbānus ← Middle French urbain →
Less commonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounurbanism (countable and uncountable, plural urbanisms)

plural urbanisms

  1. countableuncountableThe study of cities, their geographic, economic, political, social, and cultural environment.
  2. countableuncountableThe culture or way of life of people who live in cities.

    Synonyms: urbiculture

  3. countableuncountableUrbanization.
  4. countableuncountableUrban planning.

    Simultaneously there has been a growing disenchantment with the conventional face of urban design as it is practiced in the West, alongside demands for a new and emerging urbanism that is responsive to the everyday life of the city: […]

    2008, Diego Ramirez-Lovering, Opportunistic Urbanism, RMIT Publishing, →ISBN, page 125

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe culture or way of life of people who live in cities.

Similar
urbiculture
Also see
urban planningurbiculture

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*werbʰ-
  2. Proto-Italic*worβis?
  3. Proto-Indo-European*gʰerdʰ-
  4. Proto-Indo-European*gʰórdʰosder.?
  5. Latinurbs
  6. Latinurbānus
  7. Middle Frenchurbain
  8. Latinurbānus
  9. Englishurban
  10. Englishurbanism

From urban + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Estonian urbanistika, urbanism
  • urbanistikastudy of cities
  • urbanismculture of people who live in cities
Finnish kaupunkitutkimus, kaupunkikulttuuri
  • kaupunkitutkimusstudy of cities
  • kaupunkikulttuuriculture of people who live in cities
  • kaupunkilaiskulttuuriculture of people who live in cities
French urbanisme
  • urbanismestudy of cities
German Urbanistik, Stadtleben
  • Urbanistikstudy of cities
  • Stadtlebenculture of people who live in cities
Irish uirbeachas
  • uirbeachasculture of people who live in cities
Italian urbanistica
  • urbanisticastudy of cities
Malay urbanisme, urbanisme
  • urbanismestudy of cities
  • urbanismeculture of people who live in cities
Polish urbanistyka, urbanizm
  • urbanistykastudy of cities
  • urbanizmculture of people who live in cities
Romanian urbanism, urbanistică
  • urbanismstudy of cities
  • urbanisticăstudy of cities
Russian урбани́зм, урбани́стика
  • урбани́зм (urbanízm)study of cities
  • урбани́стика (urbanístika)study of cities
Welsh trefolaeth, trefolrwydd
  • trefolaethstudy of cities
  • trefolrwyddculture of people who live in cities

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

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Cite this entry
APA

urbanism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/urbanism

MLA

“urbanism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/urbanism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “urbanism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/urbanism.

Source: urbanism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.