urban sprawl

noun

: the spreading of urban developments (such as houses and shopping centers) on undeveloped land near a city

Examples of urban sprawl in a Sentence

efforts to stop urban sprawl
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Its mission was to plan and manage regional development and control urban sprawl in the seven county, Twin Cities metropolitan area, which was then one of the fastest growing areas in the Midwest. John Diers, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025 Unplanned urban sprawl, fueled primarily by mounting housing needs and the growth of informal settlements that house more than 1.1 billion people, amplifies climate risks. Anacláudia Rossbach, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024 Ur was not as resistant to urban sprawl as was previously thought. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024 In San Diego on Thursday, agents focused on an area of deceptively treacherous mountain trails with expansive views of Tijuana, Mexico, its urban sprawl and industrial warehouses in San Diego. Eugene Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for urban sprawl

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of urban sprawl was in 1934

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Cite this Entry

“Urban sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urban%20sprawl. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

urban sprawl

noun
: the spreading of urban structures into areas surrounding a city

More from Merriam-Webster on urban sprawl

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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