homebuilder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Technical (business, legal, real estate), Neutral Journalism
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
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
Neutral
Weak
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
In which context is the word 'homebuilder' LEAST likely to be used?