urbane

[ur-beyn]

adjective

1. having the polish and suavity regarded as characteristic of sophisticated social life in major cities.

   an urbane manner.

   Synonyms: cosmopolitan, suave

2. reflecting elegance, sophistication, etc., especially in expression.

   He maintained an urbane tone in his letters.

urbane

/ ɜːˈbeɪn /

adjective

1. characterized by elegance or sophistication

Other Word Forms

• urbanely adverb
• urbaneness noun
• unurbane adjective
• unurbanely adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of urbane¹

1525–35; (< Middle French urbain ) < Latin urbānus ( urban; for difference in stress and second syllable human, humane )

Word History and Origins

Origin of urbane¹

C16: from Latin urbānus belonging to the town; see _urban

Example Sentences

His elegant and urbane Oedipus, a politician on the cusp of a momentous victory, prides himself on not playing by the old rules.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Born Jyoti in a village in India, she assumes the more urbane name Jasmine at age 15.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The former Olympic athlete, who has died at the age of 84, had an urbane manner and "grandee" style, although it belied more humble origins.

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County, at its best, comes across as urbane, lively, tolerant, expansive, with a sense of humor about itself.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Republicans seemed like their natural champion, while he says the Democrats became "the party of the elite, technocrats, the well-educated, the urbane".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• affable 
• cosmopolitan 
• cultured 
• elegant 
• polished 
• refined 
• sophisticated 
• suave 
• well-bred