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Added 9 October 2026

slum

/slʌm/ noun

First recorded: 1812 Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about slum at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions.

verb

Spend time at a lower socio-economic level than one's own, motivated by curiosity or desire for adventure; usage considered condescending and insensitive.
attending a motion picture show by the upper class was considered sluming in the early 20th century

Origin

First attested in 1812. Originally slang, in the sense "room", especially "backroom", of unknown origin.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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