suburban

American  

[suh-bur-buhn] / səˈbɜr bən /

adjective

1. pertaining to, inhabiting, or being in a suburb or the suburbs of a city or town.

2. characteristic of a suburb or suburbs.

---

noun

1. a suburbanite.

2. a short overcoat for casual wear.

3. station wagon.

suburban British  

/ səˈbɜːbən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, situated in, or inhabiting a suburb or the suburbs

2. characteristic of or typifying a suburb or the suburbs

3. pejorative narrow or unadventurous in outlook

---

noun

1. another word for suburbanite

Other Word Forms

• nonsuburban adjective
• semisuburban adjective
• suburbanism noun
• unsuburban adjective

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; sub-, urban

Example Sentences

By the end of the first episode, Samira is determined to stay in Hinkley Hills, warmed by new friends, enchanted by the fireflies and in love with the “sweet suburban air.”

From Los Angeles Times

The suburban ninth district, which sits outside Fort Worth and includes a town called White Settlement, is the very definition of a Republican stronghold.

From Salon

“Pillion” is what motorcyclists call the passenger seat, at least in suburban England where this is set.

From Los Angeles Times

Many of those original roads have faded away, swallowed by high-speed highways or erased by suburban expansion.

From Los Angeles Times

Most days I wandered through my three-story suburban dream house, lying on my stepchildren’s beds and sobbing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• rural