Definition of gentrification

The word "gentrification" has its roots in 19th-century England. It was first coined by a British anthropologist and sociologist named Matthew Lewis in 1791-1792. Lewis used the term "gentrificate" to describe the process of making rural land more suitable for wealthy landowners, which involved improving the quality of the land by adding fences, roads, and buildings. The term gained popularity in the 1960s when it was used to describe the social and economic changes that occurred in urban neighborhoods, particularly in the United States. Gentrification refers to the process of wealthier, often white, people moving into historically low-income, predominantly minority neighborhoods, renovating properties, and increasing property values. This can often lead to the displacement of long-time residents and a loss of community character. Today, the term is widely used to describe the complex and often contentious issue of urban development and social change.