blockbusting: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Legal
Quick answer
What does “blockbusting” mean?
The practice of persuading homeowners to sell their properties quickly and cheaply by suggesting that people of another race, ethnicity, or social class are moving into the neighborhood, causing property values to fall.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The practice of persuading homeowners to sell their properties quickly and cheaply by suggesting that people of another race, ethnicity, or social class are moving into the neighborhood, causing property values to fall.
In modern usage, can refer to any aggressive or disruptive business practice aimed at breaking up established patterns or monopolies; also used in entertainment to describe something exceptionally successful or groundbreaking (though 'blockbuster' is more common for this sense).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in and is almost exclusively associated with American urban history. British usage is rare and typically only in academic or historical discussions of US society.
Connotations
In American English: strongly negative, associated with systemic racism and housing discrimination. In British English: a technical/historical term with less immediate cultural resonance.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties, but slightly higher in American English due to historical context.
Grammar
How to Use “blockbusting” in a Sentence
[Agent] engaged in blockbustingBlockbusting [by Agent] in [Location]The practice of blockbustingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blockbusting” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The estate agents were accused of blockbusting in the Brixton area during the 1970s.
American English
- Dishonest realtors blockbusted many Chicago neighborhoods in the 1960s.
adjective
British English
- The inquiry focused on blockbusting techniques used by certain property firms.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in business ethics or real estate history contexts as an unethical practice.
Academic
Used in sociology, urban studies, history, and critical race theory.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
A technical term in housing law and urban policy analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blockbusting”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blockbusting”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blockbusting”
- Using it to mean 'very successful' (confusion with 'blockbuster').
- Using it as a general term for any aggressive business practice without the racial/housing context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are completely different. 'Blockbusting' is a negative historical term about housing, while a 'blockbuster' is a very successful film or event.
Yes, in the United States, blockbusting was made illegal by the Fair Housing Act of 1968.
Almost never. Its core meaning is inherently negative and exploitative.
It is primarily an American historical term. It might be used descriptively in other countries discussing similar practices, but it lacks the same specific historical resonance.
The practice of persuading homeowners to sell their properties quickly and cheaply by suggesting that people of another race, ethnicity, or social class are moving into the neighborhood, causing property values to fall.
Blockbusting is usually formal, historical, legal in register.
Blockbusting: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblɒkˌbʌstɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblɑːkˌbʌstɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: a 'block' of houses being 'busted' apart by fear and exploitation.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNITY AS A STRUCTURE (being broken apart); FEAR AS A WEAPON (used for profit).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'blockbusting' primarily used?