What does suburbanise mean?
Suburbanise means to turn an area into a suburb or cause it to acquire suburban characteristics. The word is used especially when describing the conversion of countryside, villages or formerly independent settlements through housing estates, shopping centres, roads and other suburban development. It can also have a broader social meaning, referring to places that become associated with commuting, detached housing and the outward spread of city life. The verb is common in British reporting on planning, urban development and environmental change, while US usage normally spells it suburbanize. Suburbanise is related to the noun suburb and the adjective suburban, both of which ultimately come from Latin. In contemporary discussion, the word may sound neutral when simply describing development, but it can also carry an implied criticism that rural or community life is being replaced by standardized suburban growth.
verbTo make an area suburban, especially by developing it with housing designed for people who live in the suburbs and commute to nearby cities. It can also mean to give an area the character or appearance of a suburb.
- To make an area suburban, especially through housing development.
- To give an area the social, visual or cultural character of a suburb.
"New housing and retail parks have rapidly suburbanised the countryside beyond the city."
"The construction of a new railway line suburbanised several settlements along its route."
"As more families moved into the district, even the old market town gradually took on a suburbanised appearance."
Suburbanise captures the moment when a village, field or village edge becomes part of the sprawling suburban landscape.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does suburbanise come from?
The verb was formed in English from suburb and the suffix -ise. The noun suburb comes through Anglo-French from Latin suburbium, literally a place beneath or outside the city. Related Latin urbanus gave rise to urban and urbanise, while the Latin root urbs also underlies words such as suburb, urban and suburban.
Related word forms
How suburbanise is actually used
The verb is chiefly used in British English and is common in journalism, planning and social commentary. It often carries a neutral descriptive meaning, but sometimes implies a loss of rural character or the spread of low-density development. In the US, suburbanize is the standard spelling.
Easily confused with suburbanise
Suburbanise means to turn an area into a suburb or give it suburban characteristics, whereas urbanise means to develop it as part of a city.