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.

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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

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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

In the late 1940s, most of its employees moved from Manhattan to the leafy suburban campus at Murray Hill.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

While the largest crowds gathered in major urban centers, smaller demonstrations also took place in suburban and rural communities, underscoring the movement’s broad geographic reach and growing international footprint.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

But at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the annual conservative confab held this year in suburban Dallas, the ongoing conflict with Iran seemed relatively remote.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

The less scrupulous voices also invade Beverly’s meticulous household like bulls in a suburban china shop.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

The window Will had first seen in the quiet suburban road in Oxford opened here, and on the Oxford side it was guarded by police—or had been when Mary tricked them into letting her through.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• rural