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Definition of shantytown

shantytown

/ˈʃæn.tiˌtaʊn/
shan · ty · town
Plural:shantytowns
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shantytown Lexical Profile

shantytown Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A deprived area on the outskirts of a town or city consisting of large numbers of crude, makeshift dwellings typically constructed from scrap materials.

Example

"Rapid urbanization in the mid-twentieth century led to the expansion of a sprawling shantytown along the edge of the industrial district."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for shantytown

• Nearby Words

shannon falls
shantou
shanty
shantytown
shape
shapeable
shapeless

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in late 19th-century American English as a compound of 'shanty' (likely from Canadian French 'chantier', meaning a lumberjack's headquarters or cabin, or Irish 'seantig', meaning an old house) and 'town'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shantytown. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shantytown
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