Urbanist is a word that refers to a person who is interested in the study of urban areas and their development. There are a number of different synonyms that can be used to describe someone with this interest. For example, an urban planner is someone who is interested in the design and development of cities, while an urban designer focuses on the physical appearance and layout of urban areas. A city advocate might work to improve the quality of life for urban residents, while a city developer may focus on building new projects in urban areas. Other synonyms for urbanist might include city researcher, urban analyst, and urban strategist. All of these words describe individuals with a keen interest in understanding and improving urban areas.