banlieue

noun

ban·​lieue
variants or less commonly banlieu
bäⁿlyœ
plural banlieues also banlieux
"
: the outlying residential area of a city : environs
often used in plural
trainload after trainload of young men and women from the banlieue was disgorged into the capitalMax Beerbohm
from the location of all these puppet theaters in the banlieues of town it is evident that they were the resorts … of common peoplePaul McPharlin

Word History

Etymology

French banlieue, from Old French, from ban summoning of the king's vassals, tribute, ban + lieue league, from Late Latin leuca

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Dictionary Entries Near banlieue

Cite this Entry

“Banlieue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/banlieue. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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