collocation · academic
urban sprawl
UK/ˈɜːbən sprɔːl/US/ˈɜːrbən sprɔːl/UR·ban·SPRAWL
the uncontrolled spread of a city into the surrounding countryside
Examples
“Many argue that urban sprawl increases car dependence.”
“Policies to limit urban sprawl can protect farmland.”
“Urban sprawl often leads to loss of green belts.”
Band 8 sentence
“I believe strict planning regulations are essential to prevent unchecked urban sprawl.”
Collocations
- control urban sprawl
- limit urban sprawl
Word family
Common mistakes
urban spread→urban sprawl
the city sprawl→urban sprawl
Say it for a higher band
5city expansion→6urban expansion→7+urban sprawl
Synonyms
urban expansion
Easily confused
urban expansion
“The city's rapid urban expansion has doubled its population in ten years.”
suburban growth
“Suburban growth often follows improvements in road networks.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In City & Urban life
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