hutment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical, Military, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “hutment” mean?
A group of simple, often temporary, huts or shelters forming a camp or settlement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group of simple, often temporary, huts or shelters forming a camp or settlement.
A collection of huts serving as accommodation, typically for workers, soldiers, or refugees; can refer to the entire settlement itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Historically more common in British military and colonial administrative contexts; rarely used in contemporary American English.
Connotations
Both varieties carry connotations of impermanence, necessity, and basic conditions, often linked to historical military or labour contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, but marginally higher historical precedent in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “hutment” in a Sentence
the hutment of [NOUN: e.g., soldiers, labourers]a hutment for [NOUN: e.g., refugees, workers]a hutment near/at/by [LOCATION]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hutment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The regiment was hutmented on the outskirts of the town.
American English
- The engineers hutmented the workforce near the construction site.
adjective
British English
- The hutment area was strictly off-limits to civilians.
American English
- They surveyed the hutment construction for sanitary compliance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in historical documents relating to labour or resource extraction.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or military studies discussing living conditions of workers, soldiers, or displaced persons.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in military logistics, historical archaeology, and some humanitarian aid/disaster relief reporting.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hutment”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hutment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hutment”
- Using it to refer to a single hut (it is always collective).
- Using it in modern, non-technical contexts where 'camp' or 'shanty town' is more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word considered somewhat archaic. It is primarily encountered in historical, military, or technical writing.
A 'hutment' specifically implies a collection of huts or very basic shelters, often with a degree of official organisation. 'Camp' is a much broader term that can include tents, vehicles, or any temporary lodging, and is far more common in modern usage.
Yes, though it is extremely rare. The verb 'to hutment' means to house or quarter in a hutment. It is mostly found in older military texts.
It is formal and technical. It would sound odd and overly specific in casual, everyday conversation where 'camp', 'shacks', or 'makeshift housing' would be used instead.
A group of simple, often temporary, huts or shelters forming a camp or settlement.
Hutment: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌtmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhətmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HUT' + 'MENT' (as in settlement) = a settlement made of huts.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEMPORARY/DERIVED SPACE IS A HUT (The concept of a settlement is metaphorically defined by its simple, basic components).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hutment' MOST likely to be found?