inner city

noun

: the usually older, poorer, and more densely populated central section of a city
inner-city 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.
That day, students across Jefferson County boarded yellow school buses, with Black students headed to formerly White suburban schools, while White students were bused to formerly Black inner city schools. Bailey Loosemore, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025 Medicaid serves people in every corner of this country, from inner cities to small rural towns, Democrats to Republicans. Anahita Dua, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025 In the summer, visitors can choose from an ice-cold mountain water dip or a slow drift on their backs down the large stream with stunning views of the historical inner city. Lea Dlugosch, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2025 Many scouts were on hand at the Double Duty Classic, an annual event designed to promote baseball in inner cities and honor the history of Negro League baseball. Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for inner city

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inner city was in 1958

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inner city.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inner%20city. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!