clubhouse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “clubhouse” mean?
A building used as a meeting place and social centre for members of a club.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A building used as a meeting place and social centre for members of a club.
A private space, often exclusive, belonging to a specific group or community; also used in sports (e.g., golf) to refer to the main building at a sports facility, and in digital contexts (e.g., Clubhouse app) for an audio-based social platform.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'clubhouse' strongly implies a physical building for a sports club (e.g., cricket, rugby). In American English, it is commonly used for golf clubs ('the 19th hole at the clubhouse') and children's organisations (e.g., Cub Scout clubhouse).
Connotations
Both varieties carry connotations of exclusivity and membership. British usage may lean more towards traditional, established institutions; American usage can be more casual (e.g., a treehouse-style clubhouse).
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to broader application (sports, youth groups).
Grammar
How to Use “clubhouse” in a Sentence
[verb] + the clubhouse (e.g., enter, leave, renovate)[adjective] + clubhouse (e.g., exclusive, new, main)clubhouse + [preposition] + [noun] (e.g., clubhouse for members, clubhouse at the golf course)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clubhouse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was clubhoused by the committee (archaic, meaning 'to be confined to the clubhouse').
adjective
British English
- The clubhouse atmosphere was very formal.
American English
- We sat at the clubhouse table for the meeting.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might refer to a company's private social lounge for executives.
Academic
Very rare except in historical/sociological studies of social clubs.
Everyday
Common for sports facilities and children's play spaces.
Technical
Specific in sports architecture and facility management.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clubhouse”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clubhouse”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clubhouse”
- Using 'club house' as two separate words (should be compound 'clubhouse').
- Confusing with 'nightclub' (which is for entertainment, not membership meetings).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a single, compound word: 'clubhouse'.
Yes, since the rise of the Clubhouse audio-chat app, it can metaphorically refer to an exclusive online community or platform.
A 'club' is the organisation or group itself. The 'clubhouse' is the physical (or sometimes virtual) building or space that the club uses.
Not typically. It is strongly associated with non-commercial members' associations, sports, and leisure. A company's social space would more likely be called a 'staff lounge' or 'recreation room'.
A building used as a meeting place and social centre for members of a club.
Clubhouse is usually neutral to formal in register.
Clubhouse: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklʌbhaʊs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklʌbhaʊs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's like a boys' clubhouse in there (implies exclusivity, often male-dominated).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CLUB (group) needing a HOUSE (building). A house for the club = clubhouse.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCLUSIVE SPACE IS A FORTRESS; COMMUNITY IS A HOUSEHOLD.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'clubhouse'?