noun phrase · academic
built environment
/ˈbɪlt ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/BUILT en·VIR·on·ment
The man-made physical surroundings in which people live and work, especially in towns and cities.
Examples
“Designing the built environment well can promote healthier lifestyles.”
“Changes to the built environment often affect social behaviour.”
“Planners assess the built environment when considering new developments.”
Band 8 sentence
“Urban planners need to consider how the built environment influences public health outcomes.”
Collocations
- sustainable built environment
- changes to the built environment
- impact of the built environment
Word family
Common mistakes
building environment→built environment
Say it for a higher band
5city environment→6urban environment→7+built environment
Synonyms
urban fabric
man-made environment
Easily confused
urban fabric
“The urban fabric of historic districts often resists large-scale redevelopment.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In City & Urban life
Learn it with its set