: opposition to the locating of something considered undesirable (such as a prison or incinerator) in one's neighborhood
NIMBYism noun

Examples of NIMBY in a Sentence

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.
Francisco Leal, a resident and lead organizer for NIMBY Imperial, said that’s a major part of its appeal. Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026 The vote was a victory for common sense over NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) resistance. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026 And many municipalities, responding to impassioned NIMBY locals, are actively fighting top-down, state-level attempts to meaningfully move the needle on new housing development. Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026 Building new transmission lines takes years and often gets thwarted by NIMBY pushback. IEEE Spectrum, 29 Dec. 2025 The campaign could open yet another front in the eternal NIMBY vs. YIMBY war and potentially turn the contest to succeed Pelosi into a referendum on the best way to bring down astronomical rents and home prices. J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Dec. 2025 Most Americans no longer fit the NIMBY stereotype. Jaime Catmull, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

not in my backyard

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of NIMBY was in 1980

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“NIMBY.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/NIMBY. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.

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