penthouse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, journalistic, real-estate
Quick answer
What does “penthouse” mean?
A luxurious apartment on the top floor of a tall building.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A luxurious apartment on the top floor of a tall building.
Originally, a structure attached to the side or roof of a main building; later, a superstructure on a roof; now primarily a high-status, often luxurious, top-floor apartment. Also used metaphorically for any elite or top-level position.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. Spelling and minor collocational preferences may differ (e.g., 'penthouse flat' is more common in UK English).
Connotations
Identical connotations of luxury, wealth, and high status in both variants.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to higher prevalence of high-rise residential buildings in major cities.
Grammar
How to Use “penthouse” in a Sentence
[possessive] penthousepenthouse in/on [location]penthouse with [feature]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “penthouse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in property listings, investment portfolios, and luxury market reports.
Academic
Rare; may appear in sociological studies on urban housing and class.
Everyday
Used to describe a very expensive, aspirational type of housing.
Technical
In architecture/real estate: a dwelling unit located on the roof of a building, often with a private terrace.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “penthouse”
- Using it for any attic room. / Pronouncing it as /ˈpenshaʊs/ (like 'pen'). / Confusing it with a 'duplex' (which is on two floors, not necessarily the top).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes, for luxury residential apartments. Historically, it could refer to any structure on a roof. In hotels, 'penthouse suite' is common.
It comes from Middle English 'pentis', a shortening of Old French 'apentis', meaning 'attached building' or 'lean-to', which itself came from Latin 'appendere' ('to hang onto'). The spelling was influenced by 'house'.
Technically, yes, if it is a dwelling on the roof. However, contemporary usage strongly associates it with tall, prestigious buildings, so using it for a low building might sound odd or ironic.
A penthouse is defined by its top-floor, luxurious position. A loft is defined by its internal architecture (open space, high ceilings, often converted from industrial/commercial use) and can be on any floor.
A luxurious apartment on the top floor of a tall building.
Penthouse is usually formal, journalistic, real-estate in register.
Penthouse: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpenthaʊs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpentˌhaʊs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Live in a penthouse (idiomatic for extreme wealth).”
- “Penthouse and pavement (contrasting extremes of society).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PENTagon house on top – it's a high-status, angular, commanding house at the peak.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIGH STATUS IS UP / WEALTH IS HEIGHT (living at the top of society's building).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of a modern 'penthouse'?