ghetto

American  

[get-oh] / ˈgɛt oʊ /

noun

plural

ghettos, ghettoes

1. a section of a city, especially a thickly populated slum area, inhabited predominantly by members of an ethnic or other minority group, often as a result of social pressures or economic hardships.

2. (formerly, in most European countries) a section of a city in which all Jews were required to live.

3. any mode of living, working, etc., that results from stereotyping or biased treatment.

   job ghettos for women; ghettos for the elderly.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of life in a ghetto or the people who live there.

   ghetto culture.

2. Slang: Often Disparaging and Offensive. noting something that is considered to be unrefined, low-class, cheap, or inferior.

ghetto British  

/ ˈɡɛtəʊ /

noun

1. sociol a densely populated slum area of a city inhabited by a socially and economically deprived minority

2. an area in a European city in which Jews were formerly required to live

3. a group or class of people that is segregated in some way

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Etymology

Origin of ghetto

First recorded in 1605–15; from Italian, originally the name of an island near Venice where Jews were forced to reside in the 16th century, from Venetian dialect: literally, “foundry for artillery” (giving the island its name); futher origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Dzigan and Schumacher—who for most of the war were imprisoned by the Soviets—play versions of themselves in postwar Poland, performing a routine about life in the ghetto.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

He studied music and drama at university and now lives in a wealthier neighbourhood, but still portrays himself as the "ghetto president", a nickname he earned through his songs denouncing social and economic injustice.

From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026

Having grown up in the slums of the capital, Kampala, he dubbed himself the "ghetto president" and campaigns on issues such as youth unemployment and human rights.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026

His social commentary encompassed war, protests, ghetto life, police brutality, pollution, and nuclear holocaust.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2025

They’re not letting anyone cross into or out of the ghetto.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron