town planning

American

noun

city planning.

town planning British

noun

US term: city planning. the comprehensive planning of the physical and social development of a town, including the construction of facilities

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

town planner noun

Etymology

Origin of town planning

First recorded in 1900–05

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.

With examples from around the world, the documentary will show how the philosophy of harmony can be applied to agriculture, traditional craft skills, architecture and town planning.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2025

Many Futaba residents were forced to give up their land for the building of a storage area for radioactive waste, and Fukushima Daiichi’s uncertain outlook during its decades-long cleanup makes town planning difficult.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 17, 2022

The federal government built Greenbelt, Md., for three reasons: to put people to work, to provide affordable housing and to be an experiment in modern town planning.

From Washington Post • Aug. 21, 2021

He has served on the town planning board, and a few years ago was elected town “almoner,” a welfare officer who administers emergency rent and food aid to people in town.

From Slate • May 18, 2020

“Yeah. The whole town planning a parade,” said Nero.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023