Word
slum
US/ˈsɫəm/
UK/slˈʌm/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a crowded area of a city where the buildings are in very bad condition and the people living there are very poor.
n. a squalid and overcrowded urban residential district inhabited by very poor people. Often used to describe areas with inadequate infrastructure and housing.
Examples
“The government plans to improve housing in the city's largest slum.”
“Rapid urbanisation in the mid-twentieth century led to the growth of several slums on the outskirts of the capital.”
“Sociologists argue that the persistence of the urban slum is not merely a housing issue but a systemic failure of economic integration and public policy.”
Examples
simple
“The government plans to improve housing in the city's largest slum.”
contextual
“Rapid urbanisation in the mid-twentieth century led to the growth of several slums on the outskirts of the capital.”
complex
“Sociologists argue that the persistence of the urban slum is not merely a housing issue but a systemic failure of economic integration and public policy.”
Usage
Often used in the plural to describe larger districts; can carry a derogatory tone depending on the speaker's intent.
Etymology
First attested in 1812. originally slang, in the sense "room", especially "backroom", of unknown origin.
See slumgullion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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