Definition

To separate or isolate a group of people in a specific area, often in a way that limits their opportunities or access to resources.

Example

The new policies seemed to ghettoize the community, pushing them into a less desirable part of the city.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Have you noticed how some neighborhoods seem to be ghettoized?

Yeah, it's really sad how they get isolated from the rest of the city.

I think it makes it harder for people to access opportunities.

Absolutely, we should be working to connect those communities instead.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ghettoize → It is formed from "ghetto" (from Italian *ghetto*, meaning a part of a city where a particular group is segregated) and "-ize" (meaning to make or to cause to become). The word "ghettoize" means to cause a group to be segregated or confined to a specific area.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'ghetto' as a place where a specific group is 'made' to live separately — that's what 'ghettoize' means.

Visually Confused Words