concrete jungle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, figurative, sometimes journalistic.
Quick answer
What does “concrete jungle” mean?
A large city or urban area characterized by extensive buildings, roads, and lack of greenery, often perceived as harsh, impersonal, or difficult to live in.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large city or urban area characterized by extensive buildings, roads, and lack of greenery, often perceived as harsh, impersonal, or difficult to live in.
Any modern, densely built environment that feels oppressive, competitive, or dehumanizing due to its scale, architecture, and social dynamics. Can metaphorically describe a challenging, survival-oriented situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in British media commentary on urban planning.
Connotations
Both varieties carry negative connotations of impersonality and hardship, but can also be used with a sense of gritty pride or resilience.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties. Appears in similar contexts (music, journalism, casual speech).
Grammar
How to Use “concrete jungle” in a Sentence
[Subject] is a concrete jungle.He escaped from the concrete jungle.They navigated the concrete jungle.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “concrete jungle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The area was concreted over and junglified by developers.
- They've concreted and jungled the whole borough.
American English
- The developers concreted and jungled the downtown core.
- The city council voted to concrete-jungle the waterfront.
adverb
British English
- The city spread out concrete-jungly in every direction.
- It was built very concrete-jungly.
American English
- The neighbourhood developed concrete-jungly over the decades.
- It grew up concrete-jungly after the war.
adjective
British English
- She hated the concrete-jungle feel of the new development.
- It's a very concrete-jungle aesthetic.
American English
- He's a concrete-jungle kid, born and raised in Brooklyn.
- The architecture had a concrete-jungle vibe.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in HR or corporate culture discussions about office environments: 'Our new downtown HQ feels like a concrete jungle.'
Academic
Used in urban studies, sociology, or human geography to critically describe urban environments.
Everyday
Common in conversation to complain about or describe city life: 'I need a break from this concrete jungle.'
Technical
Not a technical term. Used descriptively in architecture or planning discussions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “concrete jungle”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “concrete jungle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “concrete jungle”
- Using it for any city without the negative/overwhelming connotation (e.g., 'Paris is a lovely concrete jungle').
- Confusing it with 'urban jungle', which can refer more to social dangers than physical architecture.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly, but it can be used with a sense of pride or resilience, especially by those who thrive in city environments (e.g., 'I learned to survive in the concrete jungle').
No, it refers to an extensive urban area or environment, not a single structure. A large housing estate might be described as one, but a single skyscraper would not.
'Concrete jungle' emphasizes the physical, built environment. 'Urban jungle' can mean the same but often focuses more on the social aspects—crime, competition, and survival.
It is informal and figurative. It would be out of place in a strict legal or scientific document but is acceptable in journalism, essays, and everyday speech.
A large city or urban area characterized by extensive buildings, roads, and lack of greenery, often perceived as harsh, impersonal, or difficult to live in.
Concrete jungle: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒŋkriːt ˈdʒʌŋɡl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːnkriːt ˈdʒʌŋɡl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Asphalt jungle (near synonym)”
- “Jungle out there (broader metaphor for competitive environment)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a jungle where the trees are skyscrapers made of CONCRETE, and instead of vines, there are traffic lights and cables.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CITY IS A JUNGLE (dangerous, competitive, a struggle for survival).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of 'concrete jungle'?