Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
adjective
- having the polish and suavity regarded as characteristic of sophisticated social life in major cities: an urbane manner.
- reflecting elegance, sophistication, etc., especially in expression: He maintained an urbane tone in his letters.
adjective
- characterized by elegance or sophistication
1530s, “of or relating to cities or towns,” from Middle French urbain (14c.), from Latin urbanus “belonging to a city,” also “citified, elegant” (see urban). The meaning “having the manners of townspeople, courteous, refined” is first attested 1620s. Urbanity in this sense is recorded from 1530s. For sense connection, cf. human/humane.