# slum

/ˈsɫəm/ (US) · /slˈʌm/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slum
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a crowded area of a city where the buildings are in very bad condition and the people living there are very poor.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the plural to describe larger districts; can carry a derogatory tone depending on the speaker's intent.

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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.