# gentrification

/ˌdʒɛntɹɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ (US) · /dʒˌɛntɹɪfɪkˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gentrification
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. social and economic change

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the process of improving a poor neighborhood so that it becomes suitable for the middle class, which often makes it too expensive for the people who lived there before.

For teachers: the process of urban development in which a neighborhood undergoes a shift from low value to high value, often involving the displacement of long-term residents by more affluent newcomers.

- The gentrification of the old dock district has led to many new cafes but much higher rents.
- Urban planners are increasingly concerned that rapid gentrification is eroding the cultural heritage of the city's historic working-class neighborhoods.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the general process; countable when referring to a specific instance or example.

Teaching tip: This term often carries a negative connotation regarding social justice and displacement, even though it describes physical 'improvement'.

### 2. an area undergoing change

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a specific part of a city that is currently becoming more expensive and modern.

For teachers: a geographical area or district currently experiencing the effects of middle-class investment and physical rebuilding.

- This neighborhood is a clear example of gentrification in progress.
- The borough has become a site of intense gentrification, with luxury apartments replacing the former industrial warehouses.

## Examples

- Gentrification has changed the character of this neighborhood.
- The rapid gentrification of the docklands led to a sharp increase in property taxes, forcing many long-term residents to sell their homes.
- Urban planners often debate whether gentrification represents a genuine revitalization of decaying infrastructure or merely a displacement of social inequality from the city center to the periphery.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.