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Synonyms

urbanity

American  
[ur-ban-i-tee] / ɜrˈbæn ɪ ti /

noun

  • urbanities
    plural
  1. the quality of being urbane; refined courtesy or politeness; suavity.

    He was the last word in urbanity.

  2. urbanities, civilities or amenities.

  3. the quality or state of being urban.


urbanity British  
/ ɜːˈbænɪtɪ /

noun

  1. the quality of being urbane

  2. (usually plural) civilities or courtesies

"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

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of urbanity

From the Latin word urbānitās, dating back to 1525–35. See urbane, -ity


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.

See Examples For:

He’s from the San Fernando Valley, where he grew up with an enthusiasm for classical music and opera, along with yearning for urbanity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025

The brand is a "superb combination of urbanity, hedonism and undeniable luxury," L'Oreal chief executive Nicolas Hieronimus said.

From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2023

I thought of the words "the urbanity of evil."

From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2023

It offered an accessible urbanity, a kind of cosmopolitanism for the common folk.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 4, 2023

At the same time, he had an equanimity of temper which nothing could disturb, and a gentleness and urbanity of manner, which never forsook him.

From Curiosities of Human Nature by Anonymous

We urbanities are born gritty, born resourceful and imaginative, born with a strategic mindset and born competitive, with a drive to succeed.

From Scientific American ● Apr. 22, 2022

Novelist Naomi Alderman chats with inventor Saul Griffith, composer Brian Eno exchanges urbanities with forensic architect Eyal Weizman.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 27, 2020

So several times a year they surround a common board, listen to the lighter observations of ambassadors and dignitaries, rejoicing in the amenities and urbanities of Anglo-American relations.

From Time Magazine Archive

These urbanities over, the two statesmen posed for the ubiquitous cameramen, beaming and cracking jokes in French.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Religious replied with many urbanities and courtesies.

From History of the Spanish Conquest of Yucatan and of the Itzas Papers of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology, Hard University. Vol. VII. by Philip Ainsworth Means

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