housing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; common in administrative, policy, business, and technical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “housing” mean?
Buildings or structures collectively, especially for people to live in.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Buildings or structures collectively, especially for people to live in; accommodation.
1. The provision of accommodation. 2. A rigid outer casing or support that protects or contains something (e.g., an engine housing).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In both, 'housing' is the standard term for accommodation. In US English, 'housing' is frequently used in compounds like 'housing project' or 'housing development'. UK English may use 'accommodation' more interchangeably in some everyday contexts.
Connotations
Both share connotations of policy, market, and social issues. The term 'council housing' (UK) is politically charged, analogous to 'public housing' (US).
Frequency
Very high frequency in both, especially in news related to economics, social policy, and urban planning.
Grammar
How to Use “housing” in a Sentence
[adj] + housinghousing + [noun][verb] + housing (e.g., provide, build, finance)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “housing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The charity is housing refugees in temporary accommodation.
- The development will house over 500 families.
American English
- The program houses veterans in supportive communities.
- This complex can house up to 300 students.
adjective
British English
- The housing market is incredibly competitive.
- They face a severe housing shortage.
American English
- Housing prices have skyrocketed.
- She works for a housing authority.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the property market, investment, and development (e.g., 'The housing sector is slowing down').
Academic
Used in sociology, economics, and urban studies to discuss policy, inequality, and demographics.
Everyday
Common in discussions about renting, buying, or the cost of living (e.g., 'We're looking for housing near the school').
Technical
In engineering, refers to a protective casing (e.g., 'Remove the plastic housing to access the wiring').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “housing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “housing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “housing”
- Using it as a countable noun for accommodation (INCORRECT: 'They built many new housings'; CORRECT: '...many new housing units').
- Confusing 'housing' (uncountable concept) with 'house' (countable building).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually uncountable when referring to accommodation ('good housing is essential'). It can be countable when referring to a specific physical casing ('the engine has a metal housing').
'House' is a countable noun for a single building where people live. 'Housing' is an uncountable noun referring to houses/flats collectively, or the provision of them, or a protective casing.
In the UK, it's a government payment to help people on low incomes pay their rent. A similar concept in the US might be 'rental assistance' or 'Section 8'.
Yes, but the verb is 'to house' (e.g., 'The building houses a museum'). 'Housing' is the gerund/noun form.
Buildings or structures collectively, especially for people to live in.
Housing is usually neutral to formal; common in administrative, policy, business, and technical contexts. in register.
Housing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊzɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊzɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Safe as houses”
- “Get on the housing ladder”
- “A roof over one's head (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HOUSE with a RING around it. The ring is the collective concept of 'housing' – all the houses together.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOUSING IS A COMMODITY / HOUSING IS A CONTAINER (for people or machinery).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'housing' used in its technical/engineering sense?