verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈd͡ʒɛn.tɹɪ.faɪ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:JH EH1 N T R IH0 F AY2
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To renovate or improve something (especially housing or district), making it more appealing to the middle classes (now often with the negative association of pricing out existing residents).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To develop and invest in a penurious or impoverished place.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
renovate so as to make it conform to middle-class aspirations
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
gentrify a row of old houses
gentrify the old center of town
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: refurbish, renovate, freshen up
History
Etymology
From gentry + -fy.
Across languages
Translations
16 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
gentrificar
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Danish:
gentrificere
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Dutch:
gerestaureerd
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Dutch:
verbeterd
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Finnish:
keskiluokkaistaa
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
French:
embourgeoiser
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
German:
gentrifizieren
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Hungarian:
dzsentrifikál
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Italian:
gentrificare
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Norwegian Bokmål:
gentrifisere
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Polish:
gentryfikować
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Polish:
zgentryfikować
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Portuguese:
gentrificar
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Spanish:
gentrificar
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Spanish:
aburguesar
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
Swedish:
gentrifiera
— to renovate something, especially housing to make more appealing to the middle classes
