Citified Meaning: Definition and Examples
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citified
[ˈsɪtəfaɪd ]
Definition
urban development
The term 'citified' refers to something that has characteristics or qualities of a city. This can include both physical changes in the landscape as urban areas expand and cultural changes as city living influences lifestyle and social interactions. The term often implies a contrast with rural or less densely populated areas. Citified spaces may have amenities typical of urban life, such as public transportation, shopping centers, and diverse communities.
Synonyms
city-like, metropolitan, urbanized.
Examples of usage
- The citified environment offers a wide array of cultural attractions.
- Her citified fashion sense was inspired by trends seen in major cities.
- The countryside is slowly becoming more citified with new developments.
Interesting Facts
Urban Development
- Citification often involves the process of gentrification, where wealthier individuals move into an area, leading to changes in its character.
- This transformation can bring both opportunities for economic growth and challenges for existing residents.
- It reflects broader trends like urbanization, where more people live and work in city areas rather than rural settings.
Cultural Impact
- As areas become more citified, local cultures may blend, leading to a mix of traditions and lifestyles.
- The term is often used in discussions about the impact of global culture on local communities.
- Citified places may struggle to retain their original culture, leading to 'cultural homogenization' where unique identities are lost.
Environmental Considerations
- With increased citification, issues like pollution and decreased green spaces often arise.
- Cities must adapt to handle the environmental impacts of their growth, such as waste management and energy usage.
- Urban planners focus on making citified areas more sustainable through green architecture and public transport solutions.
Psychology
- Living in citified environments can influence social behavior, leading to a sense of anonymity among residents.
- Studies show that urban living can impact mental health, with both positive social interactions and negative stressors.
- Individuals in citified areas may experience 'urban overload', leading to fatigue or disconnect from nature.
Origin of 'citified'
Main points about word origin
- The term combines 'city' and the suffix '-fied', which indicates transformation or change.
- The word emerged more prominently in the 20th century as urban areas began to expand rapidly.
- Initially used to describe rural areas that lost their characteristics by being developed into cities.
The word 'citified' is derived from the root word 'city,' which has its origins in the Latin word 'civitas' meaning 'citizenship' or 'city'. The evolution of the term can be traced through Middle English, where 'cite' referred to a large town or urban area. As urbanization increased during the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly with the growth of industrial cities, the adjective form 'citified' emerged to describe the process or state of becoming city-like. It reflects societal changes as people migrate from rural areas to urban centers, leading to the transformation of landscapes, cultures, and lifestyles.