GHETTO (ghettoes)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: ghettoes   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ghetto mean? 

• GHETTO (noun)
  The noun GHETTO has 3 senses:

1. formerly the restricted quarter of many European cities in which Jews were required to live

2. any segregated mode of living or working that results from bias or stereotyping

3. a poor densely populated city district occupied by a minority ethnic group linked together by economic hardship and social restrictions

  Familiarity information: GHETTO used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GHETTO (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Formerly the restricted quarter of many European cities in which Jews were required to live

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Context example:

the Warsaw ghetto

Hypernyms ("ghetto" is a kind of...):

quarter (a district of a city having some distinguishing character)

Derivation:

ghettoize (put in a ghetto)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any segregated mode of living or working that results from bias or stereotyping

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

no escape from the ghetto of the typing pool

Hypernyms ("ghetto" is a kind of...):

life (a characteristic state or mode of living)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A poor densely populated city district occupied by a minority ethnic group linked together by economic hardship and social restrictions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("ghetto" is a kind of...):

city district (a district of a town or city)

 Context examples 

It was impossible that this should be, much less in the labor ghetto south of Market.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But at the last moment, as he stepped into the upstairs entrance, he recoiled and turned and fled through the swarming ghetto.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Tell them what you think about them and their ghetto ethics.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"Maybe nobody will be there," Brissenden said, when they dismounted and plunged off to the right into the heart of the working-class ghetto, south of Market Street.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The man's stooped and narrow shoulders and weazened chest proclaimed him the true child of the crowded ghetto, and strong on Martin was the age-long struggle of the feeble, wretched slaves against the lordly handful of men who had ruled over them and would rule over them to the end of time.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)