A tenementAn apartment building, often old and in poor condition. is usually a run-downIn bad condition because it has not been cared for. apartment building, especially one that is crowdedContaining too many people or too much for the space. and meets only basic living standards. In modern English, the word often suggests poor housing and tough living conditions.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈtɛnəmənt/
Easy pronunciation: TEN-uh-ment (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Refers to a run-down apartment building, not the broader legal or land-tenure sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Tenement Meaning
an old, crowded apartment building in poor condition
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a run-down apartment building that barely meets basic standards
Example: Many families lived in a tenement on the city’s Lower East Side.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- tenement house — A direct equivalent for this sense, though less common in everyday use.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Tenement Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- tenement house
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes think tenement just means any apartment building, but it usually implies poor condition or overcrowding.
- Tenement is not the same as a modern apartment complex or condominium.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does tenement mean in simple English?
A tenement is an old, crowded apartment building, usually in poor condition.
Is tenement a synonym for apartment?
Not exactly. A tenement is a type of apartment building, but the word usually suggests it is run-down or overcrowded.
What is a tenement house?
A tenement house is another term for a tenement, especially in older or more formal usage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.