slum

[sluhm]

noun

1. Often slums. a thickly populated, run-down, squalid part of a city, inhabited by poor people.

2. any squalid, run-down place to live.

verb (used without object)

slummed, slumming 

1. to visit slums, especially from curiosity.

2. to visit or frequent a place, group, or amusement spot considered to be low in social status.

slum

/ slʌm /

noun

1. a squalid overcrowded house, etc

2. (often plural) a squalid section of a city, characterized by inferior living conditions and usually by overcrowding

3. (modifier) of, relating to, or characteristic of slums

   slum conditions

verb

1. to visit slums, esp for curiosity

2. Also: slum it. to suffer conditions below those to which one is accustomed

Other Word Forms

• slummer noun
• deslum verb (used with object)
• slummy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slum¹

1805–15; compare earlier argot slum room; origin obscure

Word History and Origins

Origin of slum¹

C19: originally slang, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

“What! No! Heavens! I scarcely survive traipsing through the slums, only to find my own house infected with plague! Eek! Eek!”

Read more on Literature

Relating his journey to becoming a visual storyteller, Thomas recalled growing up in “one of the worst slums of Philadelphia,” sitting on his front stoop reading Shakespeare, James Baldwin and Tennessee Williams, immersed and transported.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The wonderful century also saw the plunder of the Earth’s resources, suffering in urban slums and humanitarian catastrophe in Europe’s colonies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Toynbee documented their movement to suburbs, with the cities becoming predictably poorer, “infested with slums.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He had no property to “insure” it was as if he had bought fire insurance on some slum with a history of burning down.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• rookery