Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

nimby

noun

/ˈnɪm.bi/

Definition

An acronym for ‘Not In My Back Yard’, referring to the phenomenon where people support public projects but oppose them when they are located near their homes.

Examples

Many residents support renewable energy but display nimby behavior when a wind farm is proposed nearby.
The new housing development faced nimby protests from the locals who feared it would decrease their property values.

Meaning

The term describes a mindset where individuals advocate for necessary developments such as schools, parks, or housing, but resist these same changes when they are proposed in their own neighborhood.