collocation · academic

compact city

UK/ˌkɒmpækt ˈsɪti/US/ˌkɑːmpækt ˈsɪti/COM·pact CITY

Band 7+speakingtask2

An urban development model where the city grows more densely rather than spreading out.

Examples

Policymakers promote the compact city to reduce car dependence and preserve countryside.

A compact city often features mixed uses and good public transport.

Critics warn that without careful design, compact cities can suffer from overcrowding.

Band 8 sentence

Adopting a compact city model can improve sustainability, but it requires investment in public transport and public spaces to avoid overcrowding.

Collocations

  • promote a compact city
  • compact urban form

Word family

compact (adj) adjectivecompactness nouncompactly adverb

Common mistakes

We want a compact city for less traffic.We want a compact city to reduce traffic.

Compact city reduce commute time.A compact city reduces commute time.

Say it for a higher band

5dense city6high-density city7+compact city

Synonyms

dense city

Easily confused

compact city vs urban sprawl

Policy-makers are choosing strategies to avoid urban sprawl and build a more compact city.

Related words

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In City & Urban life

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