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

See Examples For:

slumlord

Perhaps the Democratic leaders could file a complaint with the city about this slumlord.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Roxanne said one of the other benefits of moving in with her in-laws was that it gave them more security than renting since all of the rental properties here were owned by the same slumlord.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2026

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

Whitney is the heiress to her parents’ slumlord fortune, a fact she pretends to distance herself from but can’t quite.

From New York Times ● Jan. 4, 2024

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