inner-city adjective 1inner city noun 1forms 3 adjective1 •Of, pertaining to, or situated in the central part of a city, especially an older, populous area of low-income or immigrant families. inner city noun1 •The parts of a large city closer to its core, especially older, populous areas of low-income or immigrant families as opposed to centrally located commercial areas. formsinner cities · more inner-city · most inner-city