# knockdown

/ˈnɑkˌdaʊn/ (US) · /nˈɒkdaʊn/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/knockdown
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a very cheap or low-quality house. It is a slang word used mostly in the UK to describe a place that is falling apart.

For teachers: a dilapidated or poorly constructed house, typically in a working-class area.

## Examples

- He moved out of the knockdown and into a better flat.
- The estate was full of knockdowns that had not been properly maintained for decades.
- While the neighborhood has seen significant gentrification, the original knockdowns still stand as a testament to the area's industrial past and the housing shortages of the mid-twentieth century.

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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.