suburbanize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Academic
Quick answer
What does “suburbanize” mean?
To convert an area into a suburb or suburbs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To convert an area into a suburb or suburbs; to make suburban.
Often refers to the process of urban sprawl where rural or undeveloped land is developed into residential suburbs, typically involving population shift from cities and associated social changes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English commonly uses 'suburbanise', while American English uses 'suburbanize'. Pronunciation differs due to rhoticity in American English.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties, associated with urban planning, sociology, and often critiqued for environmental and social impacts.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to historical suburbanization trends, but used in both in academic and technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “suburbanize” in a Sentence
transitive: suburbanize somethingintransitive: something suburbanizesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “suburbanize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The village started to suburbanise after the new railway line opened.
- Authorities debated whether to suburbanise the green belt.
American English
- The city continues to suburbanize as more families move out.
- Developers aim to suburbanize the agricultural land for housing.
adverb
British English
- The town grew suburbanisingly over the years, altering its identity.
American English
- The region expanded suburbanizingly, leading to sprawl concerns.
adjective
British English
- The suburbanised area lost its rural character.
- A recently suburbanised neighbourhood faced increased traffic.
American English
- Suburbanized zones often lack public transportation options.
- The suburbanized landscape is dominated by single-family homes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in real estate and development contexts to describe land conversion for residential suburbs.
Academic
Common in sociology, geography, and urban studies to analyze suburban sprawl and its effects.
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation; more prevalent in news, documentaries, or discussions on urban growth.
Technical
Key term in urban planning, environmental studies, and demographic research.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “suburbanize”
- Confusing with 'urbanize', which means to make urban, not suburban.
- Misspelling as 'suburbanise' in American English or 'suburbanize' in British English without regional awareness.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specialized term primarily used in academic, technical, or formal contexts related to urban development.
'Urbanize' refers to making an area urban or city-like, often involving density and infrastructure, while 'suburbanize' specifically means converting into suburbs, typically with lower density and residential focus.
Yes, for example, transitively: 'They plan to suburbanize the valley,' and intransitively: 'The town suburbanized gradually.'
In British English, it is often spelled 'suburbanise' with an '-ise' ending, while American English uses 'suburbanize' with an '-ize' ending.
To convert an area into a suburb or suburbs.
Suburbanize is usually formal/academic in register.
Suburbanize: in British English it is pronounced /səˈbɜː.bə.naɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /səˈbɝ.bə.naɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'sub-' meaning under or near, 'urban' meaning city, and '-ize' meaning to make; so to make near the city, i.e., suburban.
Conceptual Metaphor
Suburbanization as spreading or encroaching, often visualized as a wave or infection transforming landscapes.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'suburbanize'?