urbanization

noun

ur·​ban·​i·​za·​tion ˌər-bə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

: the quality or state of being urbanized or the process of becoming urbanized

Did you know?

The word urbanization started appearing in print way back in the 1880s, which says something about the growth of American cities. The expansion of Los Angeles was an early example of uncontrolled urbanization. Urbanization is often seen as a negative trend, with bad effects on quality of life and the environment. But apartments require much less heat than houses, and commuting by mass transit rather than cars can reduce pollution and energy use, and cities offer improved opportunities for jobs (and often for education and housing as well), so city growth doesn't make everyone unhappy.

Examples of urbanization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The deluge stranded thousands at Soga Station and Narita Airport during Japan’s busy Bon holiday week, exposing sewer systems overwhelmed by rapid urbanization and prompting emergency evacuations and shelters across Chiba. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Rapid urbanization, rising incomes and the relative affordability of Chinese brands are enabling Chinese automakers to capture markets historically dominated by European, Japanese and American giants. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Overall, scientists project that, by 2050, loss of cropland from urbanization and soil degradation could reduce China’s food production capacity by up to 18 percent. — Caitlin Welsh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026

For start-ups like Mariana and General Matter, a uranium enrichment start-up backed by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, there’s an appeal to trading urbanization for Americana small-town life. — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 28 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for urbanization

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration