house of prostitution: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Legal, Historical
Quick answer
What does “house of prostitution” mean?
A building or establishment where sexual services are offered in exchange for money.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A building or establishment where sexual services are offered in exchange for money.
A term for a brothel, often used in legal, historical, or formal contexts to describe a place of organized commercial sex work. It can also metaphorically refer to any environment perceived as corrupt or morally degraded.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of illegality and moral condemnation in both regions.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech in both the UK and US, primarily reserved for specific formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “house of prostitution” in a Sentence
The police raided [the house of prostitution].[A house of prostitution] was operating in the district.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “house of prostitution” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The premises were suspected to house prostitution.
American English
- The building was used to house prostitution.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- The house-of-prostitution raid made the news.
American English
- House-of-prostitution operations were targeted by the vice squad.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in standard business contexts, except potentially in legal or regulatory discussions about zoning or illegal enterprises.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, legal, or gender studies texts to describe organized sex work venues.
Everyday
Extremely rare; considered overly formal and direct. 'Brothel' is more common if the topic arises.
Technical
Used in legal statutes, police reports, and criminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “house of prostitution”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “house of prostitution”
- Using it in casual conversation where 'brothel' would be more natural.
- Incorrectly hyphenating as 'house-of-prostitution'. It is an open compound noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is formal and direct, not polite. It is neutral in a legal/technical sense but carries the same negative moral weight as the activity it describes. Euphemisms like 'massage parlour' or 'establishment' are often used to be less direct.
There is no difference in referent. 'Brothel' is the more common, standard term. 'House of prostitution' is a more formal, descriptive phrase often found in legal or historical contexts.
Yes, though it's not common. It can be used hyperbolically to criticise an institution or environment perceived as deeply corrupt or morally bankrupt, e.g., 'He called the parliament a house of prostitution for lobbyists.'
Because the topic itself is not commonly discussed in general discourse, and when it is, simpler synonyms like 'brothel' are preferred. This specific phrase is primarily confined to formal registers.
A building or establishment where sexual services are offered in exchange for money.
House of prostitution is usually formal, legal, historical in register.
House of prostitution: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaʊs əv ˌprɒstɪˈtjuːʃn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaʊs əv ˌprɑːstɪˈtuːʃn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly use this specific phrase]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'house' as a building and 'prostitution' as the trade. It's a very literal description: a house where prostitution happens.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMORALITY IS A PHYSICAL SPACE / VICE IS A CONTAINER
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'house of prostitution' MOST appropriately used?