Okuzeka
Sociology vocabulary · Urbanisation and Community

Gentrification

Meaning in sociology, with examples

/ˌdʒentrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/nounCommon term

In sociology, gentrification means: The process by which wealthier residents and businesses move into a lower-income urban area, raising property prices and often displacing the original residents.

In Turkish: soylulaştırma, soylulaşma, mutenalaştırma

How it is used

The term was coined by the sociologist Ruth Glass in 1964 to describe changes in parts of London. Common phrases are gentrified neighbourhood, displacement and rising rents. In Turkey, studies often discuss Istanbul neighbourhoods such as Cihangir and Galata.

Example sentences

  1. Gentrification has pushed many long-term tenants out of the city centre.

  2. Cafés and galleries are often the first visible signs of gentrification.

Common collocations

  • urban gentrification
  • gentrified neighbourhood
  • resist gentrification
  • gentrification and displacement
  • urbanisationThe process by which a growing share of a country's population comes to live in towns and cities, together with the social changes this brings.
  • segregationThe separation of social groups, by law or in practice, so that they live, study or work in different places, such as separate neighbourhoods or schools.
  • social exclusionA situation in which individuals or groups are shut out from full participation in society, such as work, education, housing, services or political life.
  • communityA group of people who share a place, an identity or common interests and feel a sense of belonging and connection to one another.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Urbanisation and Community

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: