suburban
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to, inhabiting, or being in a suburb or the suburbs of a city or town.
-
characteristic of a suburb or suburbs.
noun
-
a suburbanite.
-
a short overcoat for casual wear.
adjective
-
of, relating to, situated in, or inhabiting a suburb or the suburbs
-
characteristic of or typifying a suburb or the suburbs
-
pejorative narrow or unadventurous in outlook
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of suburban
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin suburbānus “located close to a city (especially to Rome),” equivalent to sub- + urb- (stem of urbs “city”) + -ānus adjective suffix; see origin at sub-, urban
Explanation
Suburban refers to areas just beyond a city’s border. Your parents might have grown up in the city and then moved to a more suburban area after they had kids. If you see a lot of malls, plus houses that all look the same, and you're just outside a city, then you're in a suburban area: the suburbs. If you're from the suburbs, the chaos of New York City might be shocking. Suburban areas aren't as busy as urban (city) areas, but there's a lot more going on than in rural areas — farmland. One difference between suburban and urban areas is the urban areas have more cabs and public transportation.
Vocabulary lists containing suburban
Long Way Down
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 6
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The reason he’s going has to do with a by-election in a suburban area of Wigan called Makerfield.
From Slate • Jun. 23, 2026
When she started her consulting firm from her suburban Dallas-area home in 2022, Munro specifically looked for employees who wanted to microshift.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
The company plans to open more than 300 restaurants this year, many with drive-through “Chipotlanes,” which should help support its suburban expansion.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
Their first game with No. 11 Croatia in suburban Dallas will go a long way toward determining who wins the group.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Unlike the suburban house, however, the castle bustled with people.
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
