halfway house

noun

1

a

: a place to stop midway on a journey

b

: a halfway place in a progression

2

: a residence for individuals after release from institutionalization (as for mental illness, drug addiction, or criminal activity) that is designed to facilitate their readjustment to private life

Examples of halfway house in a Sentence

The car is the perfect halfway house between a family caravan and luxury sedan.

Recent Examples on the Web

Caudill spent just 12 days in the halfway house before authorities moved to send him to prison, court records show. —Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2025

In addition, the BOP’s lack of halfway house space led to people staying incarcerated in institutions much longer than necessary. —Walter Pavlo, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

He was released from the halfway house in May 2023. —Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025

After a few weeks, she was sent to live in a halfway house. —Danielle Bacher, People.com, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

halfway house

noun

: a place that provides living quarters and usually counseling to persons who have left an institution (as a prison or mental hospital) but are not ready to live in the community

Medical Definition

halfway house

noun

half·​way house ˈhaf-ˈwā-, ˈhȧf- 

: a center for individuals after institutionalization (as for mental illness or drug addiction) that is designed to facilitate their readjustment to private life

Legal Definition

halfway house

noun

half·​way house

: a residence for formerly institutionalized individuals (as mental patients, drug addicts, or convicts) that is designed to facilitate their readjustment to private life