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ghetto definition
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ghetto — noun (pronunciation: /ˈɡɛtoʊ/ or /ˈɡɛtəʊ/)
Meanings
- Historically: a part of a city where Jews were legally required or forced to live (e.g., the Venetian Ghetto).
- WWII: an area of a city where Nazi authorities confined and segregated Jews under harsh conditions.
- Modern/common usage: a neighborhood (often urban) characterized by concentrated poverty, limited resources, and social and economic marginalization, frequently inhabited predominantly by a racial or ethnic minority.
- Colloquial/slang (pejorative): used to describe something as low-quality, crude, or “trashy” (e.g., “that’s ghetto”), which is offensive and stigmatizing.
Etymology
- From Italian ghetto (16th century), probably originally referring to a foundry or the Venetian neighborhood where Jews were confined; exact origin debated.
Usage note
- “Ghetto” can be a neutral historical term, but modern and slang uses are often derogatory and perpetuate stereotypes. Prefer neutral alternatives when possible: “impoverished neighborhood,” “economically disadvantaged area,” “segregated neighborhood,” or specific, factual descriptions of conditions rather than pejorative labels.
Meanings
- Historically: a part of a city where Jews were legally required or forced to live (e.g., the Venetian Ghetto).
- WWII: an area of a city where Nazi authorities confined and segregated Jews under harsh conditions.
- Modern/common usage: a neighborhood (often urban) characterized by concentrated poverty, limited resources, and social and economic marginalization, frequently inhabited predominantly by a racial or ethnic minority.
- Colloquial/slang (pejorative): used to describe something as low-quality, crude, or “trashy” (e.g., “that’s ghetto”), which is offensive and stigmatizing.
Etymology
- From Italian ghetto (16th century), probably originally referring to a foundry or the Venetian neighborhood where Jews were confined; exact origin debated.
Usage note
- “Ghetto” can be a neutral historical term, but modern and slang uses are often derogatory and perpetuate stereotypes. Prefer neutral alternatives when possible: “impoverished neighborhood,” “economically disadvantaged area,” “segregated neighborhood,” or specific, factual descriptions of conditions rather than pejorative labels.
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