Slum: Definition, Usage & Related Terms

Meaning 1：impoverished urban area (slum)

slum 🔊

/slʌm/

A very poor and crowded area in a city, where the houses are in bad condition.

impoverished urban area 🔊

➕

/ɪmˈpɑvərɪʃt ˈɜrbən ˈɛriə/

A densely populated part of a city marked by extreme poverty, overcrowding, and deteriorated housing infrastructure.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From early 19th century English, possibly related to 'slump' for a marshy or depressed area.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'slum' rhymes with 'slump' – a neighborhood in a slump with poor conditions.

📖 Example

The tourist was shocked to see a huge slum right next to the shiny new business district. 🔊 The tourist was astonished to find a large impoverished urban area adjacent to the modern business district.

🔗 Collocations

slum clearance – The demolition and redevelopment of slum areas to improve living conditions.

slum dweller – A person who resides in a slum, often facing socio-economic challenges.

urban slum – A slum located within a city, characterized by poor infrastructure and services.

🔄 Synonyms

ghetto (n.) – An urban area, often a slum, inhabited predominantly by a minority group under poor conditions.

shantytown (n.) – A settlement with makeshift housing, typically very poor and built from scrap materials.

favela (n.) – A Brazilian Portuguese term for a slum or shantytown, often in hillside areas.

🚫 Antonyms

affluent district (n.) – A wealthy and well-maintained urban area with high living standards.

suburb (n.) – A residential area on the city outskirts, usually more prosperous and spacious.

luxury neighborhood (n.) – An upscale urban area with expensive housing and amenities.

🌱 Derivatives

slummy (adj.) – Resembling or characteristic of a slum, such as in appearance or condition.

slumlord (n.) – A landlord who owns and profits from slum properties, often neglecting maintenance.

slumming (n.) – The act of visiting slums, often out of curiosity or for social observation.

📖 Cultural Story

The term emerged in 19th-century London to describe overcrowded, impoverished urban districts, often highlighted in social reform discussions.