What does ruralize mean?
Ruralize is a verb meaning to make something rural or to arrange for people and activities to live in rural communities. It can describe a deliberate change in the character of an area, such as a shift away from urban development, or a policy that disperses institutions or populations into the countryside. The word is relatively uncommon and tends to appear in formal writing about planning, government, education, settlement, or social organization. It is especially recognizable in discussions of ruralization, including policies intended to counter population concentration in large cities. Although the basic meaning is straightforward, the verb can imply purposeful transformation rather than a simple description of an already rural place. In American English, ruralize is the usual spelling, while British English also commonly uses ruralise. The word provides a direct verbal counterpart to ruralization, the process of becoming or being made rural.
verbTo make an area, community, or settlement rural, especially by changing its character from urban to rural. It can also mean to move or organize something into rural communities.
- To make an area, community, institution, or population rural.
- To move or organize people or activities into rural communities.
"The plan aimed to ruralize the region by relocating residents and limiting urban development."
"The government proposed ruralizing the northern districts as part of a long-term decentralization plan."
"She ruralized the course by arranging practical fieldwork in small farming communities."
Ruralize is urban planning's opposite verb: it describes the deliberate transformation of a place away from city life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ruralize come from?
Ruralize is formed from rural plus the suffix -ize, meaning “to make” or “to bring into a particular condition.” Rural itself comes through French from Latin ruralis, derived from rus, meaning “countryside” or “land.” The same Latin root underlies rustic and rusticity, while ruralization names the resulting process.
Related word forms
How ruralize is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon and somewhat formal word. In British English, the spelling ruralise is common; ruralize is especially associated with American usage and with discussions of population distribution and regional planning.
Easily confused with ruralize
Ruralize means to make something rural, whereas urbanize means to make something urban or city-based.