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Glite Dictionary
nonmetropolitan

nonmetropolitan

6.7
In areas outside a large city that are rural or in small towns
  • adjective
  • /ˌnɒnˌmɛtəˈrɒpəˌtæn/
translation icon : no metropolitano
  • Local governments in nonmetropolitan regions are often tasked with promoting tourism to boost their economies.
  • nonmetropolitan counties
  • nonmetropolitan areas
  • metropolitan and nonmetropolitan

Examples

  • The 1980 census confirmed that the population grew more rapidly in nonmetropolitan counties than in metropolitan ones and that rural growth was evident both in small towns and outside incorporated places.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The reduced total of retirement counties in California probably resulted from economic expansion and the corresponding in-migration of younger cohorts, even in nonmetropolitan counties.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Unlike other retirement locations, the ones in Florida include both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Democrats also won in selected nonmetropolitan counties, such as many with recent environment-induced growth.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The original dominant characterization of polarization is that of an America divided between a metropolitan Blue nation and a nonmetropolitan Red one.

    Academic text (2007)

  • For example, Larsen indicated that the percentage of foreign-born individuals living in nonmetropolitan areas was much smaller (5.3%) than the percentage of natives (20.2%) living in nonmetropolitan areas.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Many young families prefer to live in nonmetropolitan areas where the cost of living is lower.

  • The study focused on the unique challenges faced by nonmetropolitan communities, such as limited access to healthcare.

Synonyms

rural
vsnonmetropolitan
392 2.5

Of the countryside rather than the city, often near farms and open land

includes countryside but also covers less urbanized or fringe regions
outlying
vsnonmetropolitan
5 5.0

Far from the center or main part of a place

refers to being outside large city areas and to rural character
nonurban
vsnonmetropolitan
4.2

Outside cities in areas with few people or buildings

emphasizes rural and less urbanized regions rather than mere absence of urban traits
outstate
vsnonmetropolitan
  • US
6.7

Outside the main city of a state, in smaller towns or rural areas

applies more broadly to being outside metropolitan areas without state focus

Antonyms

metropolitan
121 4.8

About a large city and its way of life

How Urban

metropolitan
121 4.8
urban
571 2.5
suburban
234 3.5
nonmetropolitan
6.7
rural
392 2.5

Surface Forms

nonmetropolitan positive

Morphology

nonmetropolitan = metropolitan (transparent) = non + metropolitan

Formed by the productive negative prefix 'non-' added to the adjective 'metropolitan', so the meaning 'not metropolitan' is directly inferable.

Etymology

Nonmetropolitan starts with non- meaning 'not' and the rest comes from metropolitan, which is related to metro or metropolis meaning 'city'. So nonmetropolitan describes places that are 'not in a city', like small towns or rural areas.