urbane

adjective

ur·​bane ˌər-ˈbān 

: notably polite or polished in manner

urbanely adverb

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When Should You Use urbane?

City slickers and country folk have long debated whether life is better in town or in the wide-open spaces, and urbane is a term that springs from the throes of that debate. In its earliest English uses, urbane was synonymous with its close relative urban ("of, relating to, characteristic of, or constituting a city"). Both words come from the Latin adjective urbanus ("urban, urbane"), which in turn is derived from urbs, meaning "city." Urbane developed its modern sense denoting savoir faire from the belief (no doubt fostered by city dwellers) that living in the city made one more suave and polished than did leading a rural life.

Synonyms

• debonair
• smooth
• sophisticated
• suave
• svelte

Choose the Right Synonym for urbane

suave, urbane, diplomatic, bland, smooth, politic mean pleasantly tactful and well-mannered.

suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

Examples of urbane in a Sentence

The dialogue is witty and urbane.

a gentlemanly and urbane host of elegant dinner parties

Recent Examples on the Web

Now Morisseau, who is half Haitian and half Black American, is exploring a new setting, that of urbane Port-au-Prince, some years after the 2010 earthquake, a natural disaster that brought to the fore, with devastating clarity, the unnatural cycles of exploitation that threaten to define Haiti. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024

The independent clothing brand, founded in 2013 by designer Dan Snyder, reflects everything that’s artful, urbane and unapologetically audacious about a borough legendary for its feisty creativity. —David Hochman, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024

In contrast to the movement’s ragtag AK47-totting freedom fighters, the moderate and urbane Ramos-Horta championed the Timor-Leste cause in foreign capitals and especially at the U.N. —Charlie Campbell / Dili, Timor-Leste, TIME, 4 Sep. 2024

The classical-meets-country-house architecture offers a relaxed lifestyle fused with urbane glamour and a thoroughly modern slate of creature comforts. —Mark David, Robb Report, 18 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin urbanus urban, urbane

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

urbane

adjective

ur·​bane ˌər-ˈbān 

: very polite and smooth in manner

urbanity

-ˈban-ət-ē

noun