suburb

1 of 2

noun (1)

sub·​urb ˈsə-ˌbərb 

1

a

: an outlying part of a city or town

b

: a smaller community adjacent to or within commuting distance of a city

c

suburbs plural : the residential area on the outskirts of a city or large town

2

suburbs plural : the near vicinity : environs

suburban

sə-ˈbər-bən 

adjective or noun

suburbanite

sə-ˈbər-bə-ˌnīt 

noun

suburbanite

2 of 2

noun (2)

sub·​ur·​ban·​ite |bəˌnīt 

usually -īt+V

plural -s

: a dweller in the suburbs

Did you know?

The Suburbs vs. the Urbs

Given that most of the common words in our language beginning sub- tend to have meanings concerned with “beneath” (as in subterranean and submarine) or “less than” (as with subpar), you would be forgiven for assuming that the suburbs were so named because of their location below, or their status as less than, their urban counterparts. Not so, however: sub- may have other meanings at the beginning of a word; in this case, it indicates not depth or inferiority, but proximity. In other words, the suburbs are a region close to the urbs.

Is urbs an English word? Yes; it is rarely used, but it refers typically to a city, particularly when distinguished from a suburb.

Examples of suburb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Darren Bailey, the Republican nominee for governor, criticized Pritzker for taking too long to respond to the storms, which did considerable damage to several areas, including the southern suburbs. — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026

Sprouts Farmers Market is making its debut in a Charlotte suburb in Concord. — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026

On that Tuesday in 1976 in Atlanta’s northwestern suburbs, the school celebrated the nation’s upcoming bicentennial. — Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026

In Glenn Dale, a Maryland suburb of the nation’s capital, buyers can get a free 12-by-18-foot deck, while buyers at MacLean Custom Homes can choose either a deck or $20,000 in other incentives. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English suburbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin suburbium, from sub- near + urbs city — more at sub-

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

suburb

noun

sub·​urb ˈsəb-ˌərb 

1

a

: a part of a city or town near its outer edge

b

: a smaller community close to a city

2

plural : the area of homes close to or surrounding a city

suburban

sə-ˈbər-bən 

adjective or noun

Etymology

Noun

Middle English suburb "part around the outer edge of a city," from early French (same meaning), from Latin suburbium (same meaning), from sub "under, close to" and urbs "city"