dormer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Architectural / Literary / Everyday (when describing houses)
Quick answer
What does “dormer” mean?
A vertical window that projects from a sloping roof, with its own small gable roof.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A vertical window that projects from a sloping roof, with its own small gable roof.
Any window set vertically in a structure projecting through a sloping roof. Can also refer to the entire structure (window + roof) as a unit. In historical contexts, sometimes called a 'dormer window'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes traditional or characterful architecture (e.g., Victorian, cottage-style). In modern contexts, it's a neutral architectural term.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, used mainly in contexts related to construction, real estate, or descriptive writing about buildings.
Grammar
How to Use “dormer” in a Sentence
The house has a [ADJ] dormer.They added/installed/built a dormer.Light streamed in from the dormer.A dormer overlooks the garden.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dormer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb use]
American English
- [No standard verb use]
adverb
British English
- [No adverb use]
American English
- [No adverb use]
adjective
British English
- [Rare. 'Dormer-lit' attic.]
American English
- [Rare. 'Dormer-style' window.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in real estate listings and property development plans (e.g., 'The attic conversion features a rear dormer.')
Academic
Used in architectural history, design, and engineering texts.
Everyday
Used when describing or looking at houses (e.g., 'I love the little dormer windows on that cottage.')
Technical
Core term in architecture, construction, and building regulations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dormer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dormer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dormer”
- Misspelling as 'dormar' or 'dormir'.
- Using 'dormer' to refer to any attic window, even a flat skylight.
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing the second syllable (e.g., /dɔːˈmɜː/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A skylight is flush with the roof plane. A dormer projects outwards and has its own vertical wall and mini-roof.
It comes from the Old French 'dormeor' (sleeping room), related to 'dormir' (to sleep), as dormers were often on bedroom windows in attic spaces.
No, by definition, a dormer is a structure projecting from a sloping roof. On a flat roof, a similar vertical window structure might be called a 'lantern' or simply a window wall.
Common types include gabled (with a peaked roof), hipped (with a sloped roof on three sides), shed (with a single-plane roof sloping downwards), and eyebrow (curved, without vertical sides).
A vertical window that projects from a sloping roof, with its own small gable roof.
Dormer is usually technical / architectural / literary / everyday (when describing houses) in register.
Dormer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɔːmə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɔːrmər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The word is largely technical.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a dormer as a window that 'sleeps' in the roof (from French 'dormir', to sleep). Its little roof is like a blanket.
Conceptual Metaphor
A dormer is the EYE of the roof, providing sight and light to the attic.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining feature of a dormer?