urbanization
noun
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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
Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
With this rapid population growth also came rapid urbanization, as buildings, highways and transit grew more and more dense.
—Lily Carey, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
In the suburbs of a northern Chinese city undergoing urbanization, a quirky girl who wants to see animals in the zoo is taken for a ride which will forever change her perspective on life.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 June 2025
That is due to urbanization, land disturbance, tourism, habitat destruction, air pollution, erosion and a loss of wetlands.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for urbanization
Cite this Entry
“Urbanization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urbanization. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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