noun · academic

urbanization

UK/ˌɜːbənaɪˈzeɪʃən/US/ˌɜːrbənaɪˈzeɪʃən/ur·ba·ni·ZA·tion

Band 5-6speakingtask2

The process by which cities grow and populations move from rural to urban areas.

Examples

Rapid urbanization has increased demand for housing and transport.

Urbanization can strain local services if not planned well.

Policies must address the environmental impacts of urbanization.

Band 8 sentence

In my view, sustainable urbanization requires integrated transport planning and affordable housing to avoid polarised, congested cities.

Collocations

  • rapid urbanization
  • effects of urbanization
  • urbanization process

Word family

urbanize verburbanized adjective

Common mistakes

city growthurbanization

urbanizationsurbanization

Say it for a higher band

5city growth6urban growth7+urbanization

Synonyms

urban growth

Easily confused

urban growth

Rapid urban growth in the suburbs created new housing developments.

Related words

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In Nature & Animals

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