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urbane

adjective
ur·​bane | \ ˌər-ˈbān How to pronounce urbane (audio) \

Definition of urbane

: notably polite or polished in manner
Other Words from urbane Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym When Should You Use urbane? Example Sentences Learn More about urbane

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Other Words from urbane

urbanely adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for urbane

suave, urbane, diplomatic, bland, smooth, politic mean pleasantly tactful and well-mannered. suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction. a suave public relations coordinator urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience. an urbane traveler diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully. a diplomatic negotiator bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities. a bland master of ceremonies smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity. a smooth salesman politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people. a cunningly politic manager

When Should You Use urbane?

City slickers and country folk have long debated whether life is better in town or in the wide open spaces, and urbane is a term that springs from the throes of that debate. The word traces back to Latin urbs, meaning "city," and in its earliest English uses urbane was synonymous with its close relative urban ("of, relating to, characteristic of, or constituting a city"). Urbane developed its modern sense of savoir faire from the belief (no doubt fostered by city dwellers) that living in the city made one more suave and polished than did leading a rural life.

Examples of urbane in a Sentence

The dialogue is witty and urbane. a gentlemanly and urbane host of elegant dinner parties

Recent Examples on the Web

 Lopez conjures a familiarly urbane world in which men attend lavishly prepared brunches, are oppressed by their season tickets to BAM, and feel the necessity of having an opinion on German Expressionism. — Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, "How Matthew Lopez Transformed “Howards End” Into an Epic Play About Gay Life," 2 Sep. 2019 Classy and urbane, Fort Oak is a beacon in the boring brunch depths, with wonderful woodfired dishes emanating from the custom 7,000-pound grill. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "We hate brunch. But we love these 10 brunch spots," 8 Aug. 2019 In the Boathouse, the snack bar offers the same mix of the down-home and urbane. — Alec Scott, Sunset Magazine, "Lake Effect: On Reviving a Family Tradition with Your Closest Friends," 22 Jan. 2018 With these decorative conventions etched in my consciousness, Les Bords’s urbane minimalism jolted me right out of my Provençal stupor. — Alexander Lobrano, WSJ, "The New Provence: From Quaint to Uber-Chic," 11 July 2019 Though based in New Haven, Conn., the urbane designer worked off and on in San Francisco for 30 years, starting with a 500-foot tower for Market Street that was never built. — John King, SFChronicle.com, "Salesforce Tower architect Cesar Pelli dies at 92," 20 July 2019 The breakout star of the series was sassy, smart, urbane and flippant Lance Loud. — Tim Sommer, Billboard, "From '70s Reality TV Star to Queer Underground Rock Hero: Celebrating Lance Loud," 25 June 2019 The scenes are generally painted with urbane, rhythmically punchy big-band-style jazz, beefed up with strings, under declamatory vocal lines. — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, "Review: ‘The Central Park Five’ Turns Injustice Into Opera," 16 June 2019 Mizrahi’s designs are a reflection of himself: ebullient, upbeat, urbane, and always personal. — Vogue, "Isaac Mizrahi’s New Memoir, I.M., Is No Frockumentary—And the Better for It," 26 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'urbane.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of urbane

circa 1623, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for urbane

Latin urbanus urban, urbane

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More Definitions for urbane

urbane

adjective
How to pronounce urbane (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of urbane

: polite and confident
: fashionable and somewhat formal

See the full definition for urbane in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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More from Merriam-Webster on urbane

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for urbane

Spanish Central: Translation of urbane

Nglish: Translation of urbane for Spanish Speakers

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