urbanised

Urbanised is an adjective describing something that has the characteristics of an urban area or has been converted toward urban use. As a verb, to urbanise (British English) or to urbanize (American English) means to cause a rural area or region to become more urban, or to increase urban features such as higher population density and non-agricultural land use. The corresponding noun forms are urbanisation (British) and urbanization (American).

In geography and urban planning, urbanised areas are defined by factors such as population density, land use, and access to services. The process, urbanisation, typically involves migration from rural areas, economic shifts toward industry and services, and investments in housing, transport, water, and energy infrastructure. It often leads to changes in governance, planning, and service provision.

Historical patterns show rapid urbanisation during industrialisation in Europe and North America, with later waves in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Urbanisation is associated with both opportunities—economic activity, greater access to jobs and services—and challenges, including housing shortages, congestion, pollution, and social inequality.

Urbanised landscapes and regions can be characterized by dense, built environments, reduced agricultural land, and a prevalence of cities and suburbs. The term is used in academic disciplines such as geography, urban studies, and planning, and appears in policy discussions about sustainable development, urban renewal, and infrastructure planning.