state house: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Intermediate (C1)Formal, political, administrative
Quick answer
What does “state house” mean?
In the UK: a residence provided for a government minister.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In the UK: a residence provided for a government minister; In the US/NZ: a public housing project owned and managed by the government.
In Australia and some historical contexts, can refer to the principal building where a state parliament meets (e.g., State House of Pennsylvania).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, it is a specific official residence for a government minister. In American English, it primarily refers to government-owned subsidized housing for low-income residents.
Connotations
UK: Connotes privilege, high office, and government. US: Connotes social welfare, poverty, and urban policy. NZ: Similar to US usage, referring to public housing.
Frequency
More frequent in UK political reporting and US social policy discussions. General public usage varies by country.
Grammar
How to Use “state house” in a Sentence
The minister moved into his state house.She grew up in a state house.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, unless in real estate or government contracting.
Academic
Used in political science, sociology, and urban studies papers.
Everyday
Used in news and when discussing housing policy or politicians' lives.
Technical
Legal and administrative term in housing and government protocols.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “state house”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “state house”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “state house”
- Using the US meaning when discussing UK politics, or vice versa. Spelling as 'statehouse' (one word) which can refer to a capitol building.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically written as two words. 'Statehouse' as one word usually refers to a building where a state legislature meets, especially in the US.
No, it is specific. In the UK it's a ministerial residence; in the US/NZ it's public housing. For a capitol, use 'statehouse' or 'state capitol'.
In the UK, a 'council house' is public housing provided by a local council. A 'state house' is a specific residence for a government minister. In NZ, 'state house' is the equivalent of the UK's 'council house'.
It is understood in the context of social policy and urban areas, but many might use 'the projects', 'public housing', or 'government housing' more frequently in casual speech.
In the UK: a residence provided for a government minister.
State house is usually formal, political, administrative in register.
State house: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪt ˈhaʊs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪt ˈhaʊs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To live in a state house (NZ: to be of modest means).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'State' (government) + 'House' (building to live in). Who owns it? The state.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A LANDLORD (for US/NZ meaning). STATUS IS RESIDENCE (for UK meaning).
Practice
Quiz
In which country does 'state house' primarily refer to subsidized public housing?