gentrification
2 synonyms and 1 antonyms for gentrification, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The process by which a poorer urban area changes as wealthier residents and businesses move in, property prices rise and long-standing residents are gradually priced out.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to Use Gentrification
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Usually critical. Property marketing prefers 'regeneration' or 'renewal' for the same process.
Etymology
Formed from gentry, meaning people of higher social rank, plus -fication; the term entered urban sociology in the 1960s to describe changes in inner London.
Full origin of gentrification →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between gentrification and regeneration?
They can describe the same building work, but the emphasis differs. Regeneration stresses investment and improved conditions; gentrification stresses who is displaced when rents rise. Which word a speaker chooses usually reveals their view of the change.
Is gentrification always bad?
Not by definition, and it can bring investment, jobs and lower crime. The criticism is about distribution: the benefits often go to newcomers and landlords while existing tenants and small shops are forced out.
What are the signs of gentrification?
Typical markers are rising rents and house prices, older housing stock being renovated or converted into flats, independent cafés and galleries replacing cheap local businesses, and a shift in the age and income of residents over a decade or so.