Urbanity

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /əːˈbæn.ɪ.ti/
• US IPA: /ɝˈbæn.É™.ti/

urbane + -ity.

Full definition of urbanity

Noun

1. Behaviour that is polished, refined, courteous.
• 1825, Washington Irving, "", The Crayon Papers,The vaunted courtesy of the old school, the smooth urbanity that prevailed in former days ...
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 9, Eustace gaped at him in amazement. When his urbanity dropped away from him, as now, he had an innocence of expression which was almost infantile. It was as if the world had never touched him at all.
2. (in the plural) Courtesies.
• 1864, Sheridan Le Fanu, Wylder's Hand, ,Wealdon's two little visits explained perfectly the active urbanities of Captain Stanley Lake.

urban + -ity (later than “courtesy” sense).

Noun

1. What is characteristically urban in an area; urbanness.
• 1955, C.J. Lammers, Studies in Holland flood disaster 1953, vol. 2, p. 39,..., the majority of cases will differ as to "urbanity", as most of the evacuees were rural.
• 1956, Fred C. Iklé & Harry V. Kincaid, "Social Aspects of Wartime Evacuation of American Cities", Disaster Study, vol 4., p. 44,Evacuees, the majority of whom were rural persons, reported more tensions as the urbanity of the reception community increased

Antonyms

• rurality