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Definition of favela
: a settlement of jerry-built shacks lying on the outskirts of a Brazilian city
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of favela from the Web
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On the same day Melo was shot, a mother and daughter were killed in the Mangueira favela near the iconic Maracana stadium as police and criminals exchanged fire for over three hours.
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Robson Luiz de Mendonca, 46, knows firsthand how life in a favela can consume loved ones.
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Amid a sharp increase in violence in favelas, or slums, millions of Rio residents are facing daily stresses akin to those in a war zone.
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In Rio, which hosted the Games last summer, favelas were emptied before the opening ceremony, but organizers promised that venues would have a positive, lasting impact for the community.
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Kern survives in the impoverished, urban environment of a favela by thieving, wielding knives, competing in martial arts and being on the run.
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Close by, the Triângulo favela community was disrupted to make way for rapid bus lines that were expanded before the Olympics.
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Day 3 Your last full day in Rio begins and ends with samba, the dance and musical style that is said to have originated in the city's favelas in the late 1800s.
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Day 3 Your last full day in Rio begins and ends with samba, the dance and musical style that is said to have originated in the city's favelas in the late 1800s.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'favela.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of favela
Brazilian Portuguese favela, perhaps from Favela, hill outside Rio de Janeiro
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