NIMBY

American  

[nim-bee] / ˈnɪm bi /

Or Nimby

abbreviation

1. not in my backyard: used to express opposition by local citizens to the locating in their neighborhood of a civic project, such as a jail, garbage dump, or drug rehabilitation center, that, though needed by the larger community, is considered unsightly, dangerous, or likely to lead to decreased property values.

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NIMBY British  

/ ˈnɪmbɪ /

acronym

1. not in my back yard: a person who objects to the occurrence of something if it will affect him or her or take place in his or her locality

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NIMBY Cultural  

1. Acronym for “N ot I n M y B ack Y ard.” A term for a person who resists unwanted development, such as manufacturing plants, prisons, power companies, or chemical companies in his or her own neighborhood or town.

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Other Word Forms

• Nimbyism noun

Etymology

Origin of NIMBY

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

“Ladera Heights is not just any neighborhood; it holds the distinction of being the 3rd most affluent African American community in the nation,” Bradford wrote, channeling her inner NIMBY.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2023

Ford officials have run up against resistance to its plans, however, in the latest iteration of a phenomenon known as NIMBY, which stands for "Not In My Back Yard."

From Reuters • Jul. 10, 2023

Ms Hilton, now the Green group leader on Hastings Borough Council, bristles at the suggestion of the "NIMBY argument" in these circumstances.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2023

And his points always align with a Not In My Back Yard, or NIMBY, stance.

From Washington Post • Feb. 4, 2023

For that Fox got called a NIMBY, for “Not In My Backyard,” a sort of urban Luddite.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 15, 2018