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.

Examples of suburb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The neighborhood Karen remains Nairobi's most desirable suburb, a mix of posh residential properties, schools, embassies, country clubs, and golf courses. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026

For viewers of a certain age, Morley’s film reflects exactly what that would mean for a young girl in the doldrum suburbs at a time when James Callaghan was the country’s drab center-right Labour prime minister and unemployment was over 5%. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026

The 7th congressional district stretches from the western suburbs of Oak Park, Maywood and Bellwood through the West Side, to downtown and Navy Pier. — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026

The district stretches from Sacramento’s eastern suburbs into the Sierra foothills, including parts of Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Nevada and Colusa counties. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

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"