Urbanists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Advocates and researchers devoted to examining and improving city design, urban policies, and community living conditions
2. Professionals who focus on the planning and management of urban areas while considering sustainability and livability
3. Individuals who analyze and support the growth and structure of cities to enhance urban life

Etymology: "Urbanists" is the plural of "urbanist," which is formed from "urban" plus the suffix "-ist," the same ending found in words like "artist" or "scientist." The base "urban" traces back through Middle French "urbain" and Latin "urbānus" to "urbs," the Latin word for "city," itself rooted in an ancient Indo-European idea of an enclosed or walled settlement. The suffix does most of the work in "urbanist." The Latin "-ista" and Greek "-istēs" were agent endings for people who practise or specialise in something, and English took the ending over through Old French and Middle English. So an "urbanist" is, in structure, a specialist in matters of the city. The modern sense, a professional who plans and manages urban areas with attention to sustainability and livability, follows that pattern closely.

Synonyms: city planner, urban planner, metropolitan specialist, civic planner, environmental designer