Meaning of ghetto in English

Table of contents

Noun
ghetto
Etymology
early 17th century: perhaps from Italian getto‘foundry’ (because the first ghetto was established in 1516 on the site of a foundry in Venice), or from Italian borghetto, diminutive of borgo‘borough’
Definitions
1. formerly the restricted quarter of many European cities in which Jews were required to live
Examples
- « the Warsaw ghetto »
Derived terms
- ghettoise
- ghettoize
2. any segregated mode of living or working that results from bias or stereotyping
Examples
- « the relative security of the gay ghetto »
- « no escape from the ghetto of the typing pool »
3. a poor densely populated city district occupied by a minority ethnic group linked together by economic hardship and social restrictions

Famous quotes

« It all happened so fast. The ghetto. The deportation. The sealed cattle car. The fiery altar upon which the history of our people and the future of mankind were meant to be sacrificed. »
Elie Wiesel
« I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good. »
Oprah Winfrey
« Why shouldn't rap be esoteric, able to take in current events, history and criticism? I guess it's this old idea of containment - that rappers, because they're black, can't and shouldn't aspire to look outside the ghetto for influence. »
Saul Williams
« The great moments of rock 'n' roll were never off in some corner of the music world, in a self-constructed ghetto. »
Bono
« I always loved the way music made me feel. I did sports at school and all, but when I got home, it was just music. Everybody in my neighborhood loved music. I could jump the back fence and be in the park where there were ghetto blasters everywhere. »
Dr. Dre