tent city

noun

plural tent cities
: a collection of many tents set up in an area to provide usually temporary shelter (as for people who don't have a permanent place of residence)
Tent cities of displaced homeowners have sprung up …—Matt Woolsey
Anti-sweatshop protesters at FSU pitched a tent city last March to demand that the school join the Workers Rights Consortium …—Meline Toumani et al.

Examples of tent city in a Sentence

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.
Now, Gascón — whose entire family survived — is among hundreds residing in a tent city in a large sports complex that includes facilities for soccer, basketball, volleyball and other sports. — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Separately, Netanyahu’s office said work was underway on a new tent city, funded by the United Arab Emirates, in an area that the IDF had cleared of Hamas and weaponry. — Dan Williams, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026 Such federal funding intricacies could seem far removed from the denizens of a tent city under the highway in San Diego. — Eric Boodman, STAT, 31 July 2026 San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has instructed police to crack down on dealers and dismantle tent cities. — Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tent city

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tent city was in 1838

Rhymes for tent city

See All Rhymes for tent city

Browse Nearby Words

tent caterpillar
tent city
tent club
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tent city.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tent%20city. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tent city

noun
: a group of many tents set up to provide usually temporary shelter (as for displaced or homeless people)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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