urbanization

especially British, ur·ban·i·sa·tion

[ur-buh-nuh-zey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or fact of urbanizing, or taking on the characteristics of a city.

   Urbanization has led to more air pollution and increasing childhood asthma.

urbanization

1. The process by which cities grow or by which societies become more urban.

Other Word Forms

• overurbanization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of urbanization¹

urbaniz(e) + -ation

Example Sentences

As America moved to mechanized textile mills, telegraphs and urbanization, that created demand for factory workers, machinists and communications clerks.

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Asia’s education sector has become increasingly attractive to private-equity firms and strategic investors due to rapid urbanization and a fast-growing middle class that can now afford higher education for their children.

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The editorial notes that factors such as climate change, rapid urbanization, and increasing international travel are helping mosquito-borne viruses spread more widely, creating new public health challenges around the world.

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His side, roughly speaking, sees urbanization as a permanent reality and harmonious biodiversity — sharing these spaces with our plant and animal relatives — as the most important goal.

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Hookworms, for example, used to devastate communities in the South, but they were by and large eradicated with the introduction of indoor plumbing and urbanization.

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