tenement

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "tenement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an apartment building, typically in a low-income area. For example: "Many tenements in the inner city suffer from overcrowding and poverty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

The exploration licence encompassed an area including an Obeid property, Cherrydale Farm, which significantly increased in value when the tenement was issued.

The Guardian

One by one they came – vessels the size of tenement blocks – disgorging holidaymakers on to an esplanade dotted with little white buildings in scenes of exuberant commotion.

The Guardian

They were mean streets around Broadway and West Broadway – little rickety tenement buildings with visible fire escapes and picturesque early cast-iron former factories and warehouses.

The Guardian - Opinion

Those panellists who profiled the SNP imagined them as young, working class, living in a tenement in Dennistoun, working as a social worker.

The Guardian

Books One and Two move focus (apparently) to Duncan Thaw, born in a tenement in Glasgow (a city both like and unlike Unthank) just before the second world war.

The Guardian - Books

On the left are new tenement buildings with running water for the urban poor.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Instead of the imaginative, integrated development plan drawn up by Charles Correa, the renowned Mumbai-based architect, the former mill-hub of Lalbaug-Parel is a soulless cram of skyscrapers, mall-to-mall carpeting and snarled traffic clashing with the tenements housing the dispossessed worker families.

The Guardian

"The politicians are ruining our towns and our villages, we are being buried in corruption," says Margita Hinova, an elegantly-dressed retired accountant from Sofia's hillside Lozenets neighbourhood, overlooking the city's concrete tenements and Orthodox domes.

The Guardian

This is a place where corporate death and rebirth is happening in real time; where derelict factories and workers' tenements are being demolished to make way for trading floors and media outfits with ping-pong tables in their lobbies.The family firm isn't dying in this environment, it is thriving.

The Economist

The buildings are a mixture of bland tenements, glassy high-rises and mosques, and the late afternoon sun is bathing everything in a warm, comforting light.

The Economist

The tenements become more colourful, and more precariously perched and constructed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the word "tenement", be aware of its historical connotations of poverty and overcrowding. Choose it when those aspects are relevant to your description.

Common error

Do not use the word "tenement" as a blanket term for all apartment buildings. It specifically refers to low-rent, often run-down buildings, especially those historically associated with immigrant communities.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "tenement" is as a noun. It typically functions as a subject or object within a sentence, referring to a specific type of building. Ludwig examples confirm its use in describing housing conditions and historical contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

35%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "tenement" refers to a low-rent apartment building, often associated with overcrowding and poverty, particularly in historical urban settings. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct, but be mindful of its connotations. While frequently found in news and encyclopedic contexts, its usage implies specific conditions. Using synonyms like "apartment building" or "low-income housing" can offer a more neutral alternative, depending on the intended meaning. Avoid generalizing "tenement" to all apartment buildings; it's best reserved for situations where the historical or socio-economic context is relevant. Remember that using the term should align with the history and potential sensitivity surrounding the living conditions it implies. As shown, context is key in choosing the most appropriate term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apartment building

Refers specifically to a building divided into separate apartments, often used interchangeably but less likely to imply poverty.

low-income housing

A more general term for housing intended for people with low incomes, encompassing various types of dwellings.

public housing

Housing owned and managed by a government authority for low-income residents.

housing project

Describes government-subsidized housing, often with a negative connotation related to poverty and crime.

inner-city housing

Describes housing located in the central, often older and poorer, parts of a city.

slum dwelling

Emphasizes the poor and often unsanitary conditions of the housing.

cheap housing

Broadly describes housing that is inexpensive, often implying lower quality.

rental property

Focuses on the aspect of renting rather than the quality or condition of the building.

apartment complex

A group of apartment buildings managed as a single property, which may or may not be low-income.

residential building

A general term for a building used for living, without specifying its condition or affordability.

FAQs

How is "tenement" typically used in a sentence?

The word "tenement" is often used to describe a low-rent apartment building, especially one that is run-down or overcrowded. For example: "The family lived in a cramped "tenement" on the Lower East Side."

What are some synonyms for "tenement"?

Alternatives to "tenement" include "apartment building", "low-income housing", or "slum dwelling", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

What's the difference between a "tenement" and an "apartment building"?

While both "tenement" and "apartment building" refer to multi-unit residential buildings, "tenement" typically implies a lower standard of living, often associated with poverty and overcrowding, whereas "apartment building" is a more neutral term.

Is it offensive to use the word "tenement"?

The word "tenement" is not inherently offensive, but it carries historical connotations of poverty and substandard living conditions. Consider your audience and the context when using it, and opt for a more neutral term like "apartment building" if the negative connotations are not intended.