urbanization
ur-bun-ih-ZAY-shun
/ˌɝː.bən.əˈzeɪ.ʃən/
The process of making an area more urban; the progressive movement of population from rural to urban areas.
Refers both to physical landscape transformation and social transition towards city living.
The story behind the word. Rooted in Latin 'urbanus' (belonging to the city). The word 'urbanization' emerged during late 19th-century industrial expansions as sociologists sought a word for the structural shift from farm to factory town.
Word relationships
- citification: Citification is an informal term, whereas urbanization is the standard scientific and demographic term.
- ruralization: The process of making an area rural or returning city land to agricultural use.
Commonly confused with
- suburbanization: Suburbanization refers specifically to growth on the residential fringes of cities.
Word family
- urban (adjective): Relating to a town or city.
- urbanize (verb): To make or become urban.
Collocations
- rapid urbanization
- urbanization rate
- sustainable urbanization
- unplanned urbanization
Example sentences
- "Rapid urbanization across Asia has converted agricultural regions into vast megacities." Global development
- "Urbanization often increases energy demand and alters local climate micro-patterns." Environmental study
Memory hook
URBAN (city) + IZATION (process of becoming) = process of becoming a city. Becoming city-like.
When not to use
Do not use to describe simple agricultural expansion or single-building construction.
Fun facts
- In 1900, only 15% of Earth's population lived in cities; today that number exceeds 55%.
Related words
Explore more words
sprawl, densification, conurbation, revitalization, outskirts, gentrification
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