rent party

noun

1. (especially during the Great Depression) a party with music and dancing, given to raise money for the host's rent by collecting a contribution from each guest.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rent party¹

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Example Sentences

We’re transported to a sweaty, crowded and joyous summer rent party in 1962 when shy, awkward Oz and talented but stage-frightened Deborah first met and made tentative steps toward love.

From New York Times

But Charles didn’t want to end the piece on a downer, so the final movement for the orchestra, “House Rent Party,” is a delirious fusion of ragtime, Afro-Venezuelan waltzes and turntablism.

From New York Times

The company also said it was launching an option this summer to rent party and coach buses, and passenger vans through its U.S. app in collaboration with rental service US Coachways.

From Reuters

Langston Hughes even kept a collection of rent party advertisements from the Harlem Renaissance period.

From Slate

In concept, crowdfunding from a Twitter community resembles a digital version of immigrant lending circles, or a modern version of a rent party — events that arose in the 1920s as African Americans migrating to Harlem leaned on their friends and communities to cover exorbitant, discriminatory rents.

From Los Angeles Times