vice district

noun

Meaning

An urban area or neighborhood known for a high concentration of illegal or morally condemned activities like prostitution, gambling, or drug trafficking.

Examples

  • The city council voted to revitalize the old vice district to improve safety for residents.
  • Historians often study how the vice district influenced the social development of the early port city.

Synonyms: red-light district, slum, tenderloin, skid row