noun
tenement
TEH-nih-muhnt
Tenement (noun) means a large building divided into flats and rented out to multiple tenants, often old or run-down. Example: “The family shared a cramped tenement flat on the fourth floor.”
noun
1
A large building divided into flats and rented out to multiple tenants, often old or run-down.
"He turned into Cumberland street and, going on some paces, halted in the lee of the station wall. No-one. Meade’s timberyard. Piled balks. Ruins and tenements."
— James Joyce, [Episode 5] (1922)
"The family shared a cramped tenement flat on the fourth floor."
How to use tenement
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn apartment building, often old and crowded, rented out to many different tenants.
Common pairings
tenement building
tenement flat
tenement block
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Word forms
- Plural
- tenements
Fill the gap
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The family shared a cramped _____ flat on the fourth floor.
Etymology
From Old French tenement ("holding"), from Medieval Latin tenimentum, from Latin tenere ("to hold").
Synonyms
View more →
tenement house
Rhymes for tenement
cement
element
clement
movement
pavement
inclement
abatement
amusement
statement
agreement
excrement
amazement
See all rhymes for tenement →
Frequently asked questions
What does “tenement” mean?
The word “tenement” means a large building divided into flats and rented out to multiple tenants, often old or run-down. In plain terms, an apartment building, often old and crowded, rented out to many different tenants.
How do you pronounce “tenement”?
“Tenement” is pronounced TEH-nih-muhnt (/ˈtɛnɪmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “tenement” in a sentence?
Here is “tenement” used in a sentence: “The family shared a cramped tenement flat on the fourth floor.”
What part of speech is “tenement”?
“Tenement” is a noun.
Where does the word “tenement” come from?
The word “tenement” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French tenement ("holding"), from Medieval Latin tenimentum, from Latin tenere ("to hold").
