urban sprawl

noun

: the spreading of urban developments (such as houses and shopping centers) on undeveloped land near a city

Examples of urban sprawl in a Sentence

efforts to stop urban sprawl
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.
As natural landscapes are converted to agriculture or taken over by urban sprawl, logging operations and oil and gas exploration, ecosystems become fragmented and the space that species need to survive and reproduce disappears. Karrigan Börk, The Conversation, 13 May 2025 The population density here averages 2,500 to 13,000 people per square mile — respectable, but nowhere near Japan’s urban sprawl. Angelette C. Aviles, Baltimore Sun, 19 Apr. 2025 The rapid population growth has brought in urban sprawl, traffic gridlock, environmental pollution and a declining quality of urban life. Hugo A Loaiciga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025 Established in 2010 by seven friends from southeastern England, the group has earned international fame and fortune by turning urban sprawl into the ultimate obstacle courses. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for urban sprawl

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of urban sprawl was in 1934

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Cite this Entry

“Urban sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urban%20sprawl. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

urban sprawl

noun
: the spreading of urban structures into areas surrounding a city

More from Merriam-Webster on urban sprawl

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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