slum

1 of 2

noun

ˈsləm How to pronounce slum (audio)
plural slums
: a densely populated usually urban area marked especially by poverty

slum

2 of 2

verb

slummed; slumming; slums

intransitive verb

: to visit slums especially out of curiosity
broadly : to go somewhere or do something that might be considered beneath one's station
—sometimes used with it
slumming it in budget hotels
slummer noun

Examples of slum in a Sentence

Noun He grew up in the slums of New York. Verb He sometimes likes to go slumming in bars around the city.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
For instance, more than half of African city dwellers live in slums, meaning their homes are impermanent, overcrowded, and often without easy access to water and toilets. — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Aug. 2026 The mutilated body of Mary Ann Nichols was found in London’s East End slums. — USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
Dahlia, a disillusioned police aide, breaks into the mansion of the corrupt police chief Bernal and steals the money from his safe, unloading the funds to slum dwellers whose settlement Bernal razed down. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 May 2026 This is their third straight year slumming it in the play-in. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slum

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1825, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slum was in 1825

Rhymes for slum

See All Rhymes for slum

Browse Nearby Words

sluit
slum
slumber
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slum. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

slum

1 of 2 noun
ˈsləm How to pronounce slum (audio)
: a thickly populated section especially of a city marked by crowding, dirty run-down housing, and generally poor living conditions

slum

2 of 2 verb
slummed; slumming
: to visit slums especially out of curiosity
slummer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on slum

Nglish: Translation of slum for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slum

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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