Urban means of or relating to a city, of or relating to living in a city, having characteristics of being in the city. Urban is an adjective that technically enters into the English language in the early seventeenth century but is not commonly used until the mid-nineteenth century. Urban comes from the Latin word urbanus, meaning of or pertaining to a city or city life, being in Rome. Related words are ubanite, urbanism, urbanize, urbanization, urbanist.
Suburban means of or relating to an area on the outskirts of a city, of or relating to living in an area on the outskirts of a city, having characteristics of being in an are on the outskirts of a city. Suburban comes from the Latin word suburbanus, meaning near the city, near the city of Rome. Related words are suburbanite, suburbanism, suburbanize, suburbanization.
Rural means of or relating to the countryside, of or relating to living in the countryside, having characteristics of being in the countryside. Rural enters the language in the fifteenth century, derived from the Latin word ruralis meaning of the countryside. Related words are ruralite, ruralism, ruralize, ruralization, ruralist, rurality.
Examples
From Dec. 7 to 13, Velocity’s Next Fest NW brings this controversial change in Seattle’s urban landscape to the stage and screen with a weeklong festival of dance performances, film screenings and community forums on the subject of “utopia.” (The Seattle Times)
In an area urban planners refer to as a food desert, 2 miles from the nearest supermarket, Urban Growers Community Farm sprouted to provide fresh, inexpensive produce to residents who’d otherwise trudge or trundle to a bus to get it. (The Palm Beach Post)
Now, as the case returns for a second time to the high court, it has triggered a heated debate over who should benefit from affirmative action, what counts as diversity and whether minority students from integrated suburban high schools may contribute more on campus that those from inner-city high schools. (The San Antonio Express-News)
Life on Wednesday came to a grinding halt in Chennai and its suburbs following the unprecedented deluge, with scores of stranded citizens making their way through waist-deep water with all modes of transport and communication falling prey to the rain fury. (The Times of India)
Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center, OSF HealthCare and Northwestern University have been awarded a $750,000, three-year grant to study how on-site simulation and telehealth may improve critical care outcomes for patients with sepsis in rural hospitals. (The Peoria Journal-Star)
Alibaba is pushing heavily to reach millions of new customers in rural China and abroad through a bigger logistics. (The Sydney Morning Herald)