Pronunciation

/slʌm/

Definitions

Noun

1. A densely populated, impoverished urban area with dilapidated housing and poor living conditions.
   • Example: “The city is trying to revitalize its slums to improve the residents’ quality of life.”
2. A low-class or disreputable part of town.
   • Example: “The slum district was known for its criminal activity.”

Verb (informal)

1. To live or reside in a slum.
   • Example: “Many families are forced to slum it in those overcrowded apartments.”
2. To exist in a state of squalor or poverty.
   • Example: “Their lives felt like they were permanently sluming.”

Adjective

1. Characterizing or of a slum.
   • Example: “The slum-like conditions in the neighborhood attracted social workers’ attention.”

Phrases

• “Slum dwellers” refers to people who live in slums.
• “Escaping the slums” means moving away from a poor, impoverished area.
• “A glimpse into the slums” implies a look at the harsh realities of these communities.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The government pledged to build new housing for the slum dwellers.”
• Verb: “After years of struggling, they managed to slum it out of their financial troubles.”
• Adjective: “The slum-adorned streets were in stark contrast to the upscale neighborhoods nearby.”

Synonyms

• Informal: Tenement, ghetto, squatter settlement, slumdweller, impoverished community
• Formal: Dystopian neighborhood, slum-like environment, impoverished quarter, marginalized district