tenement
noun
ten·e·ment
ˈte-nə-mənt 
1
2
: any of various forms of corporeal property (such as land) or incorporeal property that is held by one person from another
3
: dwelling
Synonyms
Examples of tenement in a Sentence
an exhibit of pictures showing the tenements of the New York City neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen during the 1920s
Recent Examples on the Web
When Peter Orlovsky opens the door to their rundown tenement apartment, Hujar is left standing around awkwardly until Ginsberg acknowledges him.
—
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025
The exclusive dining rooms were part of what helped establish the buildings’ allure in a city that back then had a thriving elite class, even as two-thirds of the rest of the population crowded into tenements.
—Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
In January 1966, as further escalation, the Kings moved into a $90-a-month North Lawndale tenement on Hamlin.
—Erik Wallenberg, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025
On Photography Around the World and Back Again From tenement life to royal weddings to war’s front lines, Bert Hardy captured it all.
—airmail.news, 24 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tenement 
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David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025
The exclusive dining rooms were part of what helped establish the buildings’ allure in a city that back then had a thriving elite class, even as two-thirds of the rest of the population crowded into tenements.
—Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
In January 1966, as further escalation, the Kings moved into a $90-a-month North Lawndale tenement on Hamlin.
—Erik Wallenberg, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025
On Photography Around the World and Back Again From tenement life to royal weddings to war’s front lines, Bert Hardy captured it all.
—airmail.news, 24 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tenement
Dictionary Entries Near tenement
Cite this Entry
“Tenement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenement. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tenement
noun
ten·e·ment
ˈten-ə-mənt
1
2
: dwelling
Legal Definition
tenement
noun
ten·e·ment
ˈte-nə-mənt
1
a
: any of various forms of property (as land) that is held by one person from another
b
: an estate in property
2
: dwelling
Etymology
Anglo-French, from Old French, from Medieval Latin tenementum, from Latin tenēre to hold
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