urbane
Americanadjective
-
having the polish and suavity regarded as characteristic of sophisticated social life in major cities.
an urbane manner.
- Synonyms:
- cosmopolitan , suave
-
reflecting elegance, sophistication, etc., especially in expression.
He maintained an urbane tone in his letters.
adjective
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012Other Word Forms
- unurbane adjective
- unurbanely adverb
- urbanely adverb
- urbaneness noun
Etymology
Origin of urbane
1525–35; (< Middle French urbain ) < Latin urbānus ( urban; for difference in stress and second syllable human, humane )
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.
Sir Andreas told the BBC in 2002 how he had been described as an "urbane liberal" by the Daily Mail for this controversial move "and I was so pleased with the 'urbane'."
From BBC
His elegant and urbane Oedipus, a politician on the cusp of a momentous victory, prides himself on not playing by the old rules.
From Los Angeles Times
Born Jyoti in a village in India, she assumes the more urbane name Jasmine at age 15.
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.
From BBC
County, at its best, comes across as urbane, lively, tolerant, expansive, with a sense of humor about itself.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
