slum — a squalid and overcrowded urban area inhabited by very poor people
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a squalid and overcrowded urban area inhabited by very poor people
Pronunciation (IPA): /slʌm/
Example Sentences
- The billionaire decided to slum it by flying economy class for once.
- Many children in the slums don't have access to clean water.
- The government promised to improve slum housing conditions.
slum
NOUN[/slʌm/]
a squalid and overcrowded urban area inhabited by very poor people
Children play barefoot in a crowded slum lined with tin-roof shacks.
With just some gum, hope will come to the slum
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Originating in early 19th-century London, 'slum' initially referred to a room or dwelling before gradually acquiring its modern sense of a squalid, overcrowded residential area marked by poverty and poor living conditions.
Breakdown
The etymological origin remains uncertain, though some scholars suggest a possible connection to 'slumber' (to sleep), reflecting the association with disreputable lodgings where people slept in poor conditions. The word may derive from slang terminology of the London underworld.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The billionaire decided to slum it by flying economy class for once.”
“Many children in the slums don't have access to clean water.”
“The government promised to improve slum housing conditions.”
“After living in luxury hotels, camping felt like slumming it.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.