URBANITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does urbanity mean? 

• URBANITY (noun)
  The noun URBANITY has 2 senses:

1. polished courtesy; elegance of manner

2. the quality or character of life in a city or town

  Familiarity information: URBANITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• URBANITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Polished courtesy; elegance of manner

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("urbanity" is a kind of...):

courtesy; good manners (a courteous manner)

Derivation:

urbane (showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The quality or character of life in a city or town

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

there is an important difference between rusticity and urbanity

Hypernyms ("urbanity" is a kind of...):

quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)

Antonym:

rusticity (the quality of being rustic or gauche)

Derivation:

urban (located in or characteristic of a city or city life)

urban (relating to or concerned with a city or densely populated area)

 Context examples 

Her attention was now claimed by Mr. Woodhouse, who being, according to his custom on such occasions, making the circle of his guests, and paying his particular compliments to the ladies, was ending with her—and with all his mildest urbanity, said, I am very sorry to hear, Miss Fairfax, of your being out this morning in the rain.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)