suburbia
/səˈbɝbi.ə/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.79 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
4
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The suburbs as a whole and all that characterizes or pertains to them; (sometimes derogatory) the suburbs as encapsulated or represented by the typical characteristics or qualities of the people living there, especially complacency, conformity, conservativeness, dullness, etc.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "The Germanic nations, in their invasions of Italy, introduced the appellation [borgo] into that country, where it was generally applied to the houses and streets built outside the gates of a walled town, corresponding to the Roman suburbia."
- "The suburban establishments became more numerous, and in some instances the policy of following the central houses in the selection of entertainment was abandoned for that of enterprise, with the result that several plays originally produced in the outlying districts were deemed good enough for transference to mid theatrical London. […] The opportunities of aspiring dramatic authors being augmented, it is quite possible that in time Suburbia will become altogether independent of the Strand."
- "We would like this committee to do some very real thinking on how housing can be provided minority groups. We are impressed with the trend to suburbia the country over, that suburbia is white, and that while we are making an effort to get under way renewal programs in the core of our cities, that when these areas do get renewed the persons who occupy the renewed portions are for the most part persons of white skin."
- "Others with young families prefer their children to live by the sea, rather than in suburbia, even if as a result one or both parents have to travel many miles to their work."
- "Well, if it is because of increased affluence of people able to seek suburbia doesn't the economic factor become one of the principal reasons for the suburbia growing as it does? Only those who are affluent enough to go."
- "Outside a new day is dawning / Outside suburbia is sprawling everywhere"
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /səˈbɝbi.ə/
- British English: /səˈbɜːbi.ə/