urbanization

noun

ur·​ban·​i·​za·​tion ˌər-bə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

: the quality or state of being urbanized or the process of becoming urbanized

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The word urbanization started appearing in print way back in the 1880s, which says something about the growth of American cities. The expansion of Los Angeles was an early example of uncontrolled urbanization. Urbanization is often seen as a negative trend, with bad effects on quality of life and the environment. But apartments require much less heat than houses, and commuting by mass transit rather than cars can reduce pollution and energy use, and cities offer improved opportunities for jobs (and often for education and housing as well), so city growth doesn't make everyone unhappy.

Examples of urbanization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

De la Sanch, an assistant professor of environmental science and studies at DePaul University, suggests the reemergence and spread of novel viruses like hantaviruses may be due to climate change, deforestation and urbanization. —Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026

Hotez attributes this to humans increasingly interacting with wildlife and their habitats, including through urbanization and deforestation. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 9 May 2026

Burgum’s order comes as hunting continues to decline in the face of increasing urbanization. —Todd Richmond, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026

Since the 1970s more than a third of the world’s wetlands have disappeared, largely due to climate change and urbanization, at a rate that is three times faster than forest loss. —Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for urbanization

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration