gentrification
noun
gen·tri·fi·ca·tion
ˌjen-trə-fə-ˈkā-shən 
: a process in which a poor area (as of a city) experiences an influx of middle-class or wealthy people who renovate and rebuild homes and businesses and which often results in an increase in property values and the displacement of earlier, usually poorer residents
a neighborhood undergoing gentrification
"This week, we're talking about gentrification. Middle-class people move in. Property values and rents rise. Things change and improve but not for everyone. …"—
Lulu Garcia-Navarro
Lulu Garcia-NavarroOpposition is also stoked by fear of gentrification—displacement of longtime residents through higher rents or property taxes.—Steven Litt
Steven LittThe construction of luxury housing and gentrification of neighborhoods is pushing families out of communities they have called home for years.—Heidi Romanish and David Snyder
Heidi Romanish and David SnyderIn an effort to keep gentrification from creeping in the same way into the 30th Ward … Jessica Gutierrez wants to keep a lid on property taxes and inform residents about affordable housing.—Alexandra Arriaga
Alexandra ArriagaExamples of gentrification in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And after the housing stock improves, gentrification sometimes pushes out residents the program was supposed to help.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
The makeup of the neighborhoods themselves have also changed, with gentrification driving an influx of many of the younger, progressive voters who flocked to Mamdani.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
Rising home prices and gentrification have changed where families live in the city, leading to declining enrollment in regions, such as northwest Denver, even as enrollment grows in the far northeast.
—Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 12 June 2025
In 2022, Mamdani protested a $2 billion private housing development in Queens, saying the proposal for 25% of the units to be affordable was inadequate and would cause displacement and gentrification.
—Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gentrification
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.
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
The makeup of the neighborhoods themselves have also changed, with gentrification driving an influx of many of the younger, progressive voters who flocked to Mamdani.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
Rising home prices and gentrification have changed where families live in the city, leading to declining enrollment in regions, such as northwest Denver, even as enrollment grows in the far northeast.
—Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 12 June 2025
In 2022, Mamdani protested a $2 billion private housing development in Queens, saying the proposal for 25% of the units to be affordable was inadequate and would cause displacement and gentrification.
—Richard McGahey, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gentrification
Cite this Entry
“Gentrification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentrification. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share