English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
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.
"The family shared a cramped tenement flat on the fourth floor."

How to use tenement

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn apartment building, often old and crowded, rented out to many different tenants.

Common pairings
tenement building tenement flat tenement block

Word forms

tenements plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “tenement” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

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").

Origin: Medieval Latin

tenement house

Rhymes for tenement

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").

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial