household name: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium frequency (C1 level)Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “household name” mean?
A person, brand, or company that is extremely well-known to the general public.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, brand, or company that is extremely well-known to the general public.
Something so famous it is recognizable in almost every home; the pinnacle of mainstream public recognition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and concept are identical. The only minor difference is in potential contextual examples (e.g., a 'household name' in UK media vs. US media).
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. Carries connotations of commercial success, cultural penetration, and ubiquitous familiarity.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in business/marketing contexts, but equally common in general discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “household name” in a Sentence
[Brand/Person] + is/became/remains + a household name + (in [country/field])to turn [something] into a household nameVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “household name” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The brand was successfully household-named by the ad campaign. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- They aim to household-name their product. (rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- She achieved household-name status. (as compound adjective before noun)
American English
- It's a household-name brand. (as compound adjective before noun)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in marketing and branding to denote ultimate success, e.g., 'Our goal is to become a household name.'
Academic
Rare. Might appear in media studies, sociology, or cultural studies discussing fame and consumer culture.
Everyday
Common in discussions about celebrities, products, and popular culture, e.g., 'That actor is a household name now.'
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “household name”
- Using it for things that are only moderately famous. Using 'house name' or 'home name'. Incorrect article: 'He is household name' (missing 'a').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is very unusual. It is almost exclusively used for people, brands, companies, and sometimes characters (e.g., Mickey Mouse).
When used as a compound noun (the subject), it is not hyphenated: 'He is a household name.' When used as a compound adjective before a noun, it is usually hyphenated: 'household-name status'.
All household names are celebrities in their field, but not all celebrities are household names. A 'household name' implies recognition by the general public, including people not interested in that field. A niche academic might be a celebrity in their field but not a household name.
Yes, the fame itself is neutral, but the context can be negative. e.g., 'The dictator's name became a household name for cruelty.'
A person, brand, or company that is extremely well-known to the general public.
Household name is usually neutral to formal in register.
Household name: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊs.həʊld ˌneɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊs.hoʊld ˌneɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A name to conjure with (formal/literary, partial overlap)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a name so common it's written on a label in every HOUSEHOLD.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAME IS PROXIMITY / PRESENCE (The famous entity is metaphorically 'inside' every home).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'household name'?