suburb

noun

sub·​urb ˈsə-ˌbərb How to pronounce suburb (audio)
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 adjective or noun
suburbanite 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 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suburb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of suburb was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near suburb

Cite this Entry

“Suburb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suburb. Accessed 9 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

suburb

noun
sub·​urb ˈsəb-ˌərb How to pronounce suburb (audio)
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 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"

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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