guest room: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal in domestic contexts; common in hospitality and real estate listings.
Quick answer
What does “guest room” mean?
A room in a private home set aside for visitors to sleep in.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A room in a private home set aside for visitors to sleep in.
A bedroom designated for temporary occupants, such as friends, family, or paying guests; can also refer to a similar room in a small hotel or bed and breakfast.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Spare room' is a very common British synonym, slightly less formal. In American real estate, 'guest bedroom' is equally common.
Connotations
In both varieties, it suggests a degree of formality and intentional hospitality compared to 'spare room'.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in real estate and hospitality marketing.
Grammar
How to Use “guest room” in a Sentence
We have a guest room.She prepared the guest room for her aunt.The guest room is at the end of the hall.They converted the study into a guest room.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guest room” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- I'll just pop up and make the guest room ready.
- Our guest room doubles as a home office.
American English
- We're turning the den into a guest room.
- The guest room has its own full bathroom.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in hospitality (B&Bs, small hotels) or property descriptions.
Academic
Rare; used in sociological or architectural studies of domestic space.
Everyday
Very common in discussions about homes, visitors, and family logistics.
Technical
Used in building plans, interior design, and hospitality management.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “guest room”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “guest room”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guest room”
- Using 'guestroom' as one word (acceptable but less common than two words).
- Confusing with 'guest house' (a separate building).
- Using it for a hotel room (use 'hotel room' instead).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'guest room' is explicitly furnished and intended for overnight visitors. A 'spare room' is any extra room and may be used for storage, an office, or as a guest room; it's a broader, less specific term.
Typically, no. In a hotel context, it's a 'hotel room' or simply a 'room'. 'Guest room' is reserved for private homes or very small, home-like accommodations (e.g., a B&B).
Yes, it is an accepted variant, but the two-word form 'guest room' is more common in edited writing and dictionaries.
Use it as a noun modifier: 'guest-room door', 'guest-room key', 'guest-room amenities'. Hyphenation is often used when the compound acts as a single adjective before a noun.
A room in a private home set aside for visitors to sleep in.
Guest room is usually neutral to formal in domestic contexts; common in hospitality and real estate listings. in register.
Guest room: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡest ruːm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡest ˌruːm/ or /ˌrum/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to have) an open guest room (for)”
- “(to be) always ready in the guest room”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a room that is a 'guest' in your house – it doesn't belong to a permanent resident, it's just visiting.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOSPITALITY IS A PREPARED SPACE; A HOME IS A HOTEL (for visitors).
Practice
Quiz
Which term is LEAST likely to be used in a formal real estate listing?