Meaning & use

urbanization

noun·Academic

The process by which more people come to live in cities rather than rural areas.

See it in a sentence

Rapid urbanization has pushed the city's population past ten million in two decades.

Urbanization often brings better job opportunities but also more crowding and pollution.

A note on using this word

Urbanization describes a demographic shift, distinct from urban planning, which refers to designing cities.

Words with a similar meaning

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