slumlord

American  

[sluhm-lawrd] / ˈslʌmˌlɔrd /

noun

1. a landlord who owns slum buildings, especially one who fails to maintain or improve the buildings and charges tenants exorbitant rents.

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slumlord British  

/ ˈslʌmˌlɔːd /

noun

1. informal an absentee landlord of slum property, esp one who profiteers

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Etymology

Origin of slumlord

First recorded in 1950–55; slum + lord

Example Sentences

His similarity to the film’s villain, Mr. Potter — a wealthy, nasty slumlord who names everything he takes control of after himself — was easier to point out than spots on a cheetah.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

“The church is not a slumlord; the system is set up for small landlords to be doomed to fail,” Hunter said.

From Washington Post • Apr. 14, 2023

Aside from the stereotypical slumlord, these owners have a vested interest in maintaining quality neighborhoods.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 3, 2023

“He didn’t maintain the building at all. He was a slumlord, he really was.”

From New York Times • Dec. 20, 2021

If residents won their battle with the slumlord Greenberg, these other landlords would likely have to fix up their houses, too.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson