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Usage of Ghetto
The noun ghetto in senses 2 and 3 is sometimes considered offensive in U.S. English due to its association with racist attitudes towards underprivileged city districts and the people who live in them.
Usage of Ghetto
In the U.S., the adjective ghetto is strongly associated with racist attitudes towards the people who live in underprivileged city districts. Although the use of ghetto by and among residents of such districts may be considered neutral, its use by outsiders—particularly to disparage someone or something as being typical of such a city resident or district—is understood to be offensive.
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The etymology of Italian ghetto was formerly the subject of much speculation, but today there is little doubt that the word comes from the Italian dialect form ghèto, meaning “foundry.” A foundry for cannons was once located on an island that forms part of Venice, where in 1516 the Venetians restricted Jewish residence. The word ghèto became the name for the area and was borrowed into standard Italian as ghetto, with the meaning of “section of a city where Jews are forced to live.” From there it passed into most other European languages. Since the late 19th century, the meaning of ghetto has been extended to crowded urban districts where other ethnic or racial groups have been confined by poverty or prejudice.
Cite this Entry
“Ghetto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghetto. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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