plural slums
: a densely populated usually urban area marked especially by poverty
slummed; slumming; slums
: 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
Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025
The 1988 drama, which depicted the daily lives of children living in slums in India’s most populous city, was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 25 June 2025
James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
Speaking of co-leads slumming it in the Supporting Actor category: If this is indeed where Netflix ends up campaigning Ben Whishaw for Black Doves, consider voting for him anyway.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for slum
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Noun
The acclaimed work, about the lives of children living in slums in the city now known as Mumbai, also garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film in 1989.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025
The 1988 drama, which depicted the daily lives of children living in slums in India’s most populous city, was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 25 June 2025
Verb
Some will doubtless feel this career detour is slumming.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
Speaking of co-leads slumming it in the Supporting Actor category: If this is indeed where Netflix ends up campaigning Ben Whishaw for Black Doves, consider voting for him anyway.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for slum
Cite this Entry
“Slum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slum. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
slum
1 of 2 noun
: 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
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