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NIMBY

NIMBYS

A NIMBY is someone who's opposed to an organization, building, or project being located too close to where they live. NIMBY stands for "not in my backyard."

NIMBYs often approve of a new development, but they want it sited as far away from them as possible. When something like a homeless shelter, prison, wind turbine, drug treatment center, or airport is proposed, a NIMBY may speak up in support of the project but object strongly to its location on his or her own street. The word NIMBY, or nimby, is an acronym for "not in my back yard," which first appeared in American English around 1980.

Definitions of NIMBY
  1. noun
    someone who objects to siting something in their own neighborhood but does not object to it being sited elsewhere; an acronym for not in my backyard
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    type of:
    contestant, dissenter, dissident, objector, protester
    a person who dissents from some established policy
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘NIMBY'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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