single-wide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, specialized (real estate, construction, everyday in specific regions)
Quick answer
What does “single-wide” mean?
A type of manufactured home/mobile home that is approximately 12-16 feet (3.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of manufactured home/mobile home that is approximately 12-16 feet (3.6-4.8 metres) wide and 60-90 feet (18-27 metres) long, typically delivered as one transportable unit.
Can refer more broadly to anything with a narrow width, often implying modularity, affordability, or a simpler/lower-status version compared to wider alternatives (e.g., a single-wide trailer home, a single-wide bookshelf). In slang, occasionally used to describe something basic, cheap, or cramped.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American. In British English, the concept exists ('mobile home', 'static caravan'), but 'single-wide' as a specific width classification is not standard terminology. The UK equivalent would be a 'single-unit' or 'standard-width' mobile home.
Connotations
In the US, it often connotes affordable, sometimes stigmatised housing. In the UK, without the specific term, the equivalent structures carry their own set of social connotations (e.g., 'caravan' may suggest holiday or temporary living).
Frequency
Very high frequency in relevant American contexts (real estate listings for manufactured homes, rural/suburban speech). Extremely low to zero frequency in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “single-wide” in a Sentence
live in a [single-wide]rent/buy a [single-wide]the [single-wide] (was located/stood/sat) on...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “single-wide” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- They stayed in a single-wide holiday caravan on the coast.
- He built a single-width shed at the bottom of the garden.
American English
- They looked at several single-wide models at the dealership.
- The park had strict rules for single-wide units.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in real estate listings, property management, and sales of manufactured housing: 'Listing includes a well-maintained 2005 single-wide on a leased lot.'
Academic
Rare. Might appear in sociological, demographic, or urban studies papers discussing housing types and socio-economic status.
Everyday
Common in regions with manufactured housing communities: 'My grandparents started out in a single-wide before they built their house.'
Technical
Used in construction and transport regulations for manufactured housing, specifying dimensions and transport requirements.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “single-wide”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “single-wide”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “single-wide”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to single-wide').
- Confusing it with 'single-width' (e.g., for doors or furniture).
- Applying it to non-housing contexts without clear analogy.
- Assuming it's a universal term in all English varieties.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a single-wide is a specific type of mobile home or manufactured home, defined by its width (typically 12-16 feet). All single-wides are mobile homes, but not all mobile homes are single-wides (some are double-wides).
Yes, it is commonly used attributively (functioning like an adjective) before nouns like 'trailer', 'home', or 'unit' (e.g., 'single-wide trailer'). It is not used predicatively (e.g., 'The trailer is single-wide' is less common).
It is a standard, neutral term within the housing industry. However, outside that context, it can sometimes be used pejoratively to imply poverty or low social status, depending on the speaker's tone and intent. It's best to use it factually when describing the housing type.
No, this is primarily an American English term related to a specific type of manufactured housing common in the US. In the UK, similar structures exist but are called 'mobile homes' or 'static caravans', without the specific 'single-wide/double-wide' width distinction.
A type of manufactured home/mobile home that is approximately 12-16 feet (3.
Single-wide is usually informal, specialized (real estate, construction, everyday in specific regions) in register.
Single-wide: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪŋɡl̩ ˈwaɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪŋɡl̩ ˈwaɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not typically idiomatic; the term itself is a compound noun]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'single' (one unit) + 'wide' (describing its narrow width compared to a double-wide). Imagine a home that is only as wide as a single lorry/truck trailer.
Conceptual Metaphor
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NARROW (Contrast: LUXURIOUS HOUSING IS SPACIOUS/WIDE).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for the term 'single-wide'?