homebuilder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1
UK/ˈhəʊmˌbɪl.dər/US/ˈhoʊmˌbɪl.dɚ/

Formal/Technical (business, legal, real estate), Neutral Journalism

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “homebuilder” mean?

A person or company whose business is constructing houses and other residential dwellings.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A person or company whose business is constructing houses and other residential dwellings.

A broader term for a professional or firm involved in the construction of homes, including aspects like planning, financing, and project management. Can also refer metaphorically to someone who builds or creates a sense of 'home'.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

UK: More commonly spelled with a hyphen: 'home-builder' or written as two words 'home builder'. US: Solid compound 'homebuilder' is the dominant form in industry and media.

Connotations

US: Strongly associated with the residential construction industry, large corporations, and economic indicators. UK: Similar but can sound slightly more like a job description for an individual artisan.

Frequency

More frequent in American English, reflecting the prominence of the industry in media and economy.

Grammar

How to Use “homebuilder” in a Sentence

[homebuilder] + [verb: builds/constructs/develops] + [object: homes/houses/developments][homebuilder] + [preposition: for/of] + [noun phrase: new families/custom clients][adjective: national/major] + [homebuilder]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
national homebuildercustom homebuilderlocal homebuilderspec homebuilderhomebuilder associationhomebuilder confidence
medium
large homebuilderprivate homebuilderindependent homebuildertop homebuilderleading homebuilderhomebuilder's loan
weak
new homebuildersmall homebuildersuccessful homebuilderexperienced homebuilderregional homebuilder

Examples

Examples of “homebuilder” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • The couple decided to home-build on their own plot of land.

American English

  • They chose to homebuild rather than buy an existing property.

adjective

British English

  • The home-builder industry faces new regulations.

American English

  • Homebuilder stocks fell after the interest rate announcement.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

The homebuilder's quarterly earnings exceeded market expectations.

Academic

The paper examines the economic impact of homebuilder subsidies on local housing markets.

Everyday

We're interviewing a few homebuilders before deciding who will construct our house.

Technical

The homebuilder applied for a variance on the setback requirements.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “homebuilder”

Strong

developerresidential developerconstruction companybuilding contractor

Neutral

housebuilderhouse builderhome-builderresidential builderhome constructor

Weak

buildercontractorconstruction firm

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “homebuilder”

homebuyerhomeownerrentertenantdemolition company

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “homebuilder”

  • Misspelling as two words ('home builder') in contexts where the solid compound is standard (US).
  • Using it to describe someone building non-residential structures (e.g., 'office builder').
  • Confusing it with 'homeowner' or 'landlord'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

A homebuilder specializes in constructing residential properties, often handling the entire project from land acquisition to sale. A general contractor may work on any type of building (commercial, industrial) and is often hired by a client to manage subcontracted work on a specific project.

In American English, it is most commonly written as one word ('homebuilder'). In British English, the hyphenated form ('home-builder') or two words ('home builder') are more frequent. Always check the style guide you are using.

It is possible but less common. The term typically implies a professional or commercial entity. 'Owner-builder' or 'self-builder' are more precise terms for someone constructing their own residence.

A speculative homebuilder ('spec builder') constructs homes without a specific buyer under contract, speculating that they will sell the completed house on the open market, as opposed to a custom homebuilder who works directly with a client.

A person or company whose business is constructing houses and other residential dwellings.

Homebuilder is usually formal/technical (business, legal, real estate), neutral journalism in register.

Homebuilder: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhəʊmˌbɪl.dər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhoʊmˌbɪl.dɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: HOME + BUILDER = a builder of homes. It's literally what the word says.

Conceptual Metaphor

CREATOR/FOUNDER ('She was the homebuilder of our family's traditions'), PROVIDER.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
After the hurricane, the demand for reputable soared as families sought to rebuild.
Multiple Choice

In which context is the word 'homebuilder' LEAST likely to be used?

homebuilder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore