Meanings
plural slumlords
- derogatoryA person who makes money by renting housing that is kept in poor condition.
Coordinate term: slumlady
3 more examples
The slumlord was collecting over $100 a month for this horrible place.
1959, Senate Hearings September 23 and 24, 1959: Vol 1, page 484The first rule in the slumlord business is: “The poorer the tenant, the bigger the profit!” The explanation is simplicity itself. For example, a poor family needs a two-room apartment, but can't afford the $40.00 a month rent. So you divide the two rooms into four smaller apartments, and rent each one for $20.00 a month. The poor families are happy with the low rent, and the slumlord is happy with the increased profit.
1960, Mad Magazine April 1960, page 10The guy's a real bastard, a real slumlord. He never did anything to maintain the place. He wouldn't give us a written lease—we only had a verbal agreement.
1989 December 3, Laura Briggs, quoting Mike Mamone, “'Somewhere Else' Plans January Opening”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 21, page 3
Origin
Translations
Dutch huisjesmelker
- huisjesmelkerTranslations
Finnish slummin vuokraisäntä
- slummin vuokraisäntäTranslations
French marchand de sommeil, vendeur de sommeil
- marchand de sommeilTranslations
- vendeur de sommeilTranslations
German Bruchbudenvermieter, Schrottvermieter
- BruchbudenvermieterTranslations
- SchrottvermieterTranslations
Polish slumlord
- slumlordTranslations
Swedish hyreshaj
- hyreshajTranslations
Cite this entry
slumlord. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slumlord
“slumlord.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slumlord. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “slumlord,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slumlord.
Source: slumlord on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.