What does suburb mean?
A suburb is an area on the outskirts of a city or town, usually containing more housing and less commercial density than the central business districts. The term can refer to a particular neighborhood or, in broader expressions such as “in the suburbs,” to the wider region surrounding an urban center. Suburbs are commonly associated with residential life, commuting, schools, and relatively quiet surroundings, though their character varies greatly. The word is neutral in everyday use but may carry social or cultural connotations in discussions of suburban sprawl, segregation, or car-dependent development. In American English it is usually pronounced with a rhotic final sound, while British English commonly uses a non-rhotic pronunciation. Overall, “suburb” is a useful general term for the residential and urban-fringe areas that extend beyond a city’s traditional center.
nounAn outlying residential area of a city or town, typically less densely populated than the central urban area. The word can also refer more broadly to the surrounding region of a city.
- An outlying residential area of a city or town.
- The surrounding area or outskirts of a city, viewed more generally.
"They moved to a quiet suburb where the children could play safely outside."
"The old factory was converted into apartments in a rapidly developing suburb."
"The train line connects the city center with several communities in the outer suburbs."
Use the plural when referring to multiple suburban areas or to the outskirts of a city as a whole.
"Families have moved to the northern suburbs to find larger homes."
From the Latin for “under the city,” a suburb literally began as the territory lying beyond the urban core.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of suburb
The word comes from Old French suburbe, borrowed from Latin suburbium, meaning “the outskirts” or “the place under the city.” The Latin root combines sub- (“under”) with urbs (“city”), literally describing territory beneath or beyond the city walls. English adopted the word in the early 16th century, and it later developed the related forms “suburban,” “suburbane,” and “suburbanity.”
Related word forms
How suburb is actually used
Generally neutral and widely used in British and American English. It can sometimes imply a relatively affluent, car-dependent, or socially homogeneous residential area, especially in the expression “suburban sprawl.” In British English, the pronunciation is commonly non-rhotic.
Easily confused with suburb
A suburb is a specific residential area, whereas suburbia is a lifestyle or social condition associated with suburban living.
A suburb is a place or area; suburban is an adjective describing something located in, characteristic of, or relating to a suburb.