public house: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Historical/Legal (in everyday UK speech, 'pub' is used).
Quick answer
What does “public house” mean?
A building licensed to sell alcoholic drinks, especially beer, and sometimes also serving food and providing accommodation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A building licensed to sell alcoholic drinks, especially beer, and sometimes also serving food and providing accommodation; a pub.
An establishment that serves as a traditional social hub in a community, often with historical or cultural significance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'public house' is the full, formal or legal name for a pub, a common type of establishment. In American English, the term is rarely used in everyday speech; Americans refer to similar places as 'bars', 'taverns', or 'pubs' (the latter often suggesting a British-style establishment).
Connotations
In UK: formal, legal, traditional, sometimes quaint or historical. In US: archaic, quaint, or specifically British.
Frequency
Very common in UK formal/legal contexts and older texts; extremely rare in contemporary American English outside of historical or British-themed contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “public house” in a Sentence
The [adjective] public house in [location] was [verb, e.g., renovated, closed].They applied for a license to operate a public house.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “public house” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The public-house licence was renewed.
- It had a public-house feel.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In business rates assessments and licensing applications.
Academic
In historical, sociological, or cultural studies of British society.
Everyday
Rare in casual UK speech (prefer 'pub'); virtually absent in US speech.
Technical
In legal documents, property law, and licensing regulations.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “public house”
- Using 'public house' in casual American conversation.
- Confusing it with 'pub', which is the casual term.
- Misspelling as 'publichouse' (it is two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'pub' is the shortened, informal form of 'public house'. 'Public house' is the formal and legal term.
Rarely. Americans are more likely to say 'bar', 'tavern', or specifically 'pub' for a British-style establishment.
Traditionally, many did (like an inn), but today it is not a defining feature; the primary function is to serve alcohol.
Historically, it was a private house that was licensed to be open to the 'public' for the sale of alcoholic drinks.
A building licensed to sell alcoholic drinks, especially beer, and sometimes also serving food and providing accommodation.
Public house is usually formal/historical/legal (in everyday uk speech, 'pub' is used). in register.
Public house: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk ˈhaʊs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk ˈhaʊs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “My local (common reduction of 'my local public house').”
- “Tied house (a pub owned by a brewery).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a house that's public—open to everyone for a drink, unlike your private home.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNITY IS A HOME (the pub functions as a communal 'house' for social interaction).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the term 'public house' most commonly used in formal contexts?