banlieu
|ban-lieu|
/ˈbæn.ljuː/
area outside a city
Etymology
'banlieu' originates from French, specifically the word 'banlieue', where 'ban-' meant 'a proclamation, jurisdiction' (from Old Frankish 'bann') and 'lieue' related to 'place' or 'area' (ultimately from Latin root for place/distance).
'banlieu' changed from medieval Latin/Old French forms such as 'banleuca' or Old French 'banlieue' and eventually became the modern French 'banlieue', later borrowed into English as 'banlieu'.
Initially, it meant 'an area under a lord's ban or jurisdiction' (a zone outside direct city control); over time it evolved into the modern meaning of 'suburb' or 'outskirts', and in some contexts acquired the added sense of 'deprived suburb' in French social discourse.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a suburb or the outskirts of a city (originally from French usage).
He grew up in a banlieu outside Paris.
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Noun 2
specifically, a suburb—often used to refer to lower‑income or socially disadvantaged suburbs (especially in the context of French cities).
Many social and political discussions in France focus on conditions in the banlieu.
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Last updated: 2026/01/12 09:36