Pronunciation: [ˈɜːbɪsˌa͡ɪd] (IPA) 
The word "urbicide" is spelled with the letter combination "-cide" meaning "killing". The first part of the word, "urbi-", comes from the Latin word "urbs" meaning "city". Therefore, "urbicide" refers to the act of killing a city or the deliberate destruction of a city. In IPA phonetic transcription, "urbicide" is pronounced /ˈɜːr.bɪ.saɪd/, with the stress on the first syllable and a long "u" sound at the beginning.
Urbicide refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction or annihilation of a city, particularly in times of war or conflict. The term is derived from the combination of the Latin word "urbs," meaning city, and the suffix "-cide," denoting killing or destruction. Urbicide entails the intentional targeting of urban areas, their infrastructure, and inhabitants, aiming to annihilate the city itself as a form of warfare strategy or to exert dominance over an adversary.
The concept of urbicide goes beyond the mere physical damage caused by conventional weapons; it encompasses assaults on the social, cultural, and psychological fabric of a city. Urbicide involves not only the destruction of buildings and structures but also the erasure of historical landmarks, architectural heritage, and urban landscapes. By destroying a city, urbicide seeks to disrupt its economic, political, and social functions, often displacing its residents and fragmenting communities.
Urbicide has been employed throughout history as a violent means of warfare. Examples include the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War and the extensive damage inflicted on cities like Warsaw and Berlin during World War II. The term has also been used more broadly to describe the detrimental impact of rapid urbanization, urban decay, and neglect on cities, resulting in the degradation and destruction of urban spaces.
In academic discussions, the concept of urbicide has expanded to encompass not only physical destruction but also the structural violence that marginalizes and excludes certain groups from urban life, such as through forced evictions, gentrification, or neglect of infrastructure and services. It highlights the multidimensional nature of violence against cities, from its physical manifestations to its social and political implications.
The word urbicide is derived from the combination of two roots: urbis, which is derived from the Latin word urbs meaning city, and -cide, which is derived from the Latin word caedere meaning to kill or to cut. The combining of these roots gives urbicide its meaning of the act of killing or destroying a city.
