flophouse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, somewhat dated
Quick answer
What does “flophouse” mean?
A cheap, run-down hotel or lodging house offering basic accommodation, typically used by people with little money.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cheap, run-down hotel or lodging house offering basic accommodation, typically used by people with little money.
A place of very low-quality, temporary residence, often associated with poverty, transience, and sometimes criminal activity. It can also be used metaphorically to describe any chaotic, poorly maintained, or disreputable establishment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated and is primarily used in American English. In British English, 'doss-house' is a more common equivalent, though 'flophouse' is understood.
Connotations
In both varieties, the connotations are equally negative. The American term may evoke early-to-mid 20th-century urban settings.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English. In contemporary British English, 'cheap hostel', 'boarding house', or 'doss-house' are more likely.
Grammar
How to Use “flophouse” in a Sentence
[Subject] stayed at a flophouse.The [adjective] flophouse was on the wrong side of town.It was little more than a flophouse for [noun phrase].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flophouse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb in standard BrE)
American English
- (Not used as a verb in standard AmE)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb in standard BrE)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb in standard AmE)
adjective
British English
- (Not used as an adjective in standard BrE)
American English
- (Not used as an adjective in standard AmE)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, may appear in historical, sociological, or literary studies discussing urban poverty.
Everyday
Used informally to describe a very bad place to stay.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flophouse”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flophouse”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flophouse”
- Using it as a neutral term for any inexpensive hotel. *'We booked a lovely flophouse near the beach.' (Incorrect)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and carries strong negative connotations. It is not a polite or neutral term for budget accommodation.
Not literally. You could use it metaphorically (e.g., 'Your bedroom looks like a flophouse!') to imply it is as messy and undesirable as a real flophouse.
The closest equivalent is 'doss-house'. Both terms are informal and negative.
Not necessarily, but it strongly implies a disreputable, poorly managed place where illegal activity might occur due to its clientele and lack of oversight.
A cheap, run-down hotel or lodging house offering basic accommodation, typically used by people with little money.
Flophouse is usually informal, somewhat dated in register.
Flophouse: in British English it is pronounced /ˈflɒphaʊs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈflɑːphaʊs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms, but appears in phrases like 'flophouse of the mind' (metaphorical).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'flop' as in collapsing onto a bed from exhaustion, and 'house' where you do it. A flophouse is where you just 'flop' down to sleep because it's all you can afford.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / A PLACE TO STAY IS A TEMPORARY REST STOP (of very low quality).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'flophouse' in its core meaning?