soldiers' home: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Historical, Institutional
Quick answer
What does “soldiers' home” mean?
A residential institution providing accommodation and support for retired or disabled military personnel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A residential institution providing accommodation and support for retired or disabled military personnel.
Often a charitable or government-funded establishment offering long-term care, companionship, and services tailored to veterans. Can be used metaphorically to describe any place where former soldiers gather or find refuge.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Royal British Legion care home' or 'veterans' home' are more common contemporary terms. 'Soldiers' home' has a historical, 19th/early-20th century feel. In the US, 'soldiers' home' or 'veterans' home' are both used, with the former being well-established (e.g., the historic 'Soldiers' Home' in Washington, D.C.).
Connotations
UK: Archaic, charitable, Victorian/Edwardian era. US: Historical but still in use for specific institutions; can also carry the specific connotation of the 'Armed Forces Retirement Home' system.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, primarily found in historical, military, or administrative contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “soldiers' home” in a Sentence
He was admitted to [the soldiers' home].They donated money for [a new soldiers' home].The [soldiers' home] provided a refuge.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “soldiers' home” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The charity aims to soldiers'-home dozens of veterans each year. (Non-standard, hypothetical use for illustration.)
American English
- The new bill will help soldiers'-home those with severe disabilities. (Non-standard, hypothetical use.)
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form.]
adjective
British English
- He moved into soldiers'-home accommodation. (Hyphenated attributive use.)
- The soldiers'-home lifestyle was quiet and structured.
American English
- She advocated for soldiers'-home reforms.
- They discussed soldiers'-home funding at the committee.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in contexts of charitable trust management or property development for veteran communities.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or military studies discussing post-service care for military personnel.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used by older generations or those with direct family connections to such institutions.
Technical
Used in social work, veteran affairs administration, and historical preservation contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “soldiers' home”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “soldiers' home”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “soldiers' home”
- Misspelling as 'soldier's home' (implying one soldier) or 'soldiers home' (missing apostrophe).
- Using it to refer to a current military base or family housing on base.
- Confusing it with a 'military hospital', which is primarily for medical treatment, not long-term residence.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While a soldiers' home may provide nursing care, its defining feature is that it is exclusively for military veterans. It is a type of veterans-specific residential care facility.
No. By definition, it is for former soldiers (veterans). Housing for active-duty personnel would be called 'barracks', 'quarters', or 'on-base housing'.
Because it is a home for many soldiers (plural possessive). The apostrophe after the 's' shows that the home belongs to the collective group of soldiers.
It is not a common everyday term. It is often used in historical contexts or in the official names of specific, long-established institutions (e.g., 'The Soldiers' Home' in Chelsea, London, or in Washington, D.C.). Modern equivalents are more likely to be called 'veterans' homes' or 'care homes for veterans'.
A residential institution providing accommodation and support for retired or disabled military personnel.
Soldiers' home is usually formal, historical, institutional in register.
Soldiers' home: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsəʊl.dʒəz ˌhəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsoʊl.dʒɚz ˌhoʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No direct idioms for this specific compound. Related: 'gone to a better place' (euphemism for death, sometimes used for entering a care home).]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'home' specifically for 'soldiers' (with an apostrophe after the 's') who have finished their service. It's not a temporary base, but a final posting of care.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HARBOUR / SANCTUARY FOR THE WEARY: The institution is conceptualised as a safe port after the storm of war/military service.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a 'soldiers' home'?