urban (adj.)

"characteristic of city life, pertaining to cities or towns," 1610s (but rare before 1830s), from Latin urbanus "of or pertaining to a city or city life; in Rome," also "in city fashion, polished, refined, cultivated, courteous," but also sometimes "witty, facetious, bold, impudent;" as a noun, "city dweller," from urbs (genitive urbis) "city, walled town," a word of unknown origin.

The adjective urban gradually emerged in this sense as urbane became restricted to manners and styles of expression, but originally urban also could mean "civil, courteous in manners."

Urban renewal, euphemistic for "slum clearance," is attested from 1955, American English. Urban sprawl is recorded by 1958; urban blight by 1938. In late 20c. American English, urban acquired a suggestion of "African-American."

Urban legend is attested by 1980.

masc. proper name, from Latin urbanus "refined, courteous," literally "of a city" (see urban (adj.)). Of the popes of this name, Urban II (1088-1099) preached the First Crusade; the opponents of Urban VI (1378-1389) set up a rival in 1378 and began the Great Schism. His adherents were Urbanites.