# shanty

/ˈʃænti/ (US) · /ʃˈɑːnti/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a simple hut

noun · CEFR B2

a small, roughly built hut or cabin, often made from cheap materials like wood or metal.

For teachers: a rudimentary or improvised dwelling, typically constructed from salvaged materials and often lacking legal title to the land.

- The family lived in a small wooden shanty near the edge of the forest.
- During the rapid industrialisation of the nineteenth century, thousands of workers were forced to inhabit crowded shanties on the outskirts of the city.

### 2. a sailor's song

noun · CEFR B2

a rhythmic song that sailors used to sing together while they performed heavy work on a ship.

For teachers: a rhythmic work song, traditionally sung by sailors to coordinate heavy manual tasks such as hauling ropes or raising the anchor.

- The crew sang a lively shanty to keep their spirits up during the long voyage.
- The rhythmic structure of the sea shanty was essential for ensuring that the entire crew pulled the heavy ropes in perfect unison.

Usage: often spelled 'chantey' or 'chanty' in older texts.

### 3. unlicensed pub

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Archaic

a place where alcohol is sold without a legal license, usually in a remote area.

For teachers: an unlicensed or illegal public house or liquor shop, particularly in a rural or frontier setting.

- The gold miners spent their evenings drinking at a local shanty.
- Colonial authorities struggled to regulate the remote shanties that appeared overnight along the new railway lines.

## Examples

- The family lived in a small wooden shanty on the edge of the city.
- After the flood, many residents were forced to live in makeshift shanties until the government could rebuild the neighborhood.
- The documentary explores the lives of those who inhabit the sprawling shanty towns that have grown up around the industrial district, highlighting the lack of basic infrastructure and services.

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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.