suburb

noun

sub·​urb ˈsə-ˌbərb 

1

a

: an outlying part of a city or town

b

: a smaller community adjacent to or within commuting distance of a city

c

suburbs plural : the residential area on the outskirts of a city or large town

2

suburbs plural : the near vicinity : environs

suburban

sə-ˈbər-bən 

adjective or noun

suburbanite

sə-ˈbər-bə-ˌnīt 

noun

Did you know?

The Suburbs vs. the Urbs

Given that most of the common words in our language beginning sub- tend to have meanings concerned with “beneath” (as in subterranean and submarine) or “less than” (as with subpar), you would be forgiven for assuming that the suburbs were so named because of their location below, or their status as less than, their urban counterparts. Not so, however: sub- may have other meanings at the beginning of a word; in this case, it indicates not depth or inferiority, but proximity. In other words, the suburbs are a region close to the urbs.

Is urbs an English word? Yes; it is rarely used, but it refers typically to a city, particularly when distinguished from a suburb.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Eleven people were killed and nine injured at a dance studio in Monterey Park, a suburb of Los Angeles, on Jan. 21 during a Lunar New Year celebration. —Teddy Grant, ABC News, 31 May 2023

Asian Americans also continue to settle in less affluent suburbs in large numbers. —Hannah Nguyen, BostonGlobe.com, 31 May 2023

The brand, founded in 2005 in a Dallas suburb, was purchased by Johnny Rockets and Fatburger owner FAT Brands in 2021. —Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 31 May 2023

Robert Bowers, a 50-year-old truck driver from the Pittsburgh suburb of Baldwin, could face the death penalty if convicted of some of the 63 counts with which he is charged, including 11 counts each of obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death and hate crimes resulting in death. —Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023

Construction is about to begin on one of this summers’ largest capital road improvement projects in Evanston on one of the busiest roads in the north suburb, officials said. —Brian L. Cox, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2023

But the Better Business Bureau has given Patriots Dynasty, Patriots Future and USA Patriots, which use the address of an industrial center in the Denver suburb of Aurora, an F rating. —NBC news, 27 May 2023

Regular Russian army units replaced Wagner forces in Bakhmut’s outer suburbs, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a Telegram message Thursday. —Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 25 May 2023

About 25 miles outside Dallas, Allen is one of the booming suburbs north of the city whose populations have exploded in recent years. —Mary Beth Gahan, New York Times, 9 May 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English suburbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin suburbium, from sub- near + urbs city — more at sub-

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

suburb

noun

sub·​urb ˈsəb-ˌərb 

1

a

: a part of a city or town near its outer edge

b

: a smaller community close to a city

2

plural : the area of homes close to or surrounding a city

suburban

sə-ˈbər-bən 

adjective or noun

Etymology

Middle English suburb "part around the outer edge of a city," from early French (same meaning), from Latin suburbium (same meaning), from sub "under, close to" and urbs "city"