slum
pronunciation
How to pronounce slum in British English:
UK [slʌm]
How to pronounce slum in American English:
US [slʌm]
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- Noun:
- a district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions
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- Verb:
- visit slums for entertainment or out of curiosity
Word Origin
- slum (n.)
- 1845, from back slum "dirty back alley of a city, street of poor or low people" (1825), originally a slang or cant word meaning "room," especially "back room" (1812), of unknown origin, pastime popularized by East End novels. Related: slums. Slumscape is from 1947.
- slum (v.)
- "visit slums of a city," especially for diversion or amusement, often under guise of philanthropy, 1884, from slum (n.). Pastime popularized by East End novels. Earlier it meant to visit slums for disreputable purposes or in search of vice (1860). Related: Slumming.
Example
- 1. But these provisions are too expensive for slum dwellers .
- 2. Tomorrow 's fugitive will live in a slum , not under canvas
- 3. Slum tourism is taking off in kenya .
- 4. Accra 's notorious slum is aptly named .
- 5. Slum tourism has its advocates , who say it promotes social awareness .