Urbane
adjective /ɜːˈbeɪn/ — Suave and smooth in the way of someone at home in any city, any room.
Definition
Politely confident and sophisticated — with the ease that comes from wide experience and genuine comfort in cultured social settings. Never trying; never noticeably not trying.
Beyond the definition
Urbanity is the quality of a person who has been many places and retained something useful from each — who can speak to anyone, eat anything, adapt to any table, and remain recognisably themselves throughout.
Origin & history
Latin 'urbanus' — of the city, from 'urbs' (city). The city, historically, is where polish is acquired; urban originally meant city-dwelling but evolved to imply city-refined.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
He was effortlessly urbane — at home in a Parisian salon or a street market in Marrakech.
Her urbane ease made the most awkward situations feel navigable.
Urbanity is not the same as pretension; it's the opposite.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Urbane” when the meaning fits your context: Politely confident and sophisticated — with the ease that comes from wide experience and genuine comfort in cultured social settings. Never trying; never noticeably not trying.
Synonyms
sophisticated, suave, polished, worldly, refined
Antonyms
provincial, awkward, gauche
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Urbane" mean?
Urbane is adjective meaning: Suave and smooth in the way of someone at home in any city, any room.. Politely confident and sophisticated — with the ease that comes from wide experience and genuine comfort in cultured social settings. Never trying; never noticeably not trying.
Where does the word "Urbane" come from?
Latin 'urbanus' — of the city, from 'urbs' (city). The city, historically, is where polish is acquired; urban originally meant city-dwelling but evolved to imply city-refined.