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

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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 impact of urbanization on coyote populations varied. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024

Demographic shifts, changes in population dynamics and urbanization trends are also affecting the decisions of real estate company representatives. —Andrei Kasyanau, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Through their collaboration, these companies come up with new solutions for problems related to urbanization. —Kotaro Okada, WIRED, 23 Oct. 2024

But decades of sprawling urbanization also drove up Houston’s risk of flooding as absorbent wetlands were paved over and more homes were built in flood zones. —Mira Rojanasakul, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above