housing

1 of 2

noun (1)

hous·​ing ˈhau̇-ziŋ 

1

a

: shelter, lodging

b

: dwellings provided for people

2

a

: a niche for a sculpture

b

: the space taken out of a structural member (such as a timber) to admit the insertion of part of another

3

: something that covers or protects: such as

a

: a case or enclosure (as for a mechanical part or an instrument)

b

: a casing (such as an enclosed bearing) in which a shaft revolves

c

: a support (such as a frame) for mechanical parts

housing

2 of 2

noun (2)

: caparison sense 1

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• armor
• capsule
• case
• casing
• cocoon
• cover
• covering
• encasement
• hull
• husk
• jacket
• pod
• sheath
• shell

Examples of housing in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a camera with a waterproof housing for taking pictures of coral reefs and other underwater features

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Over a quarter of U.S. renters spend more than half of their income on housing, census data shows. —Sami Sparber, Axios, 28 Jan. 2025

So Frank started building up housing groups on Facebook, many of them women-only. —Violet Piper, Curbed, 28 Jan. 2025

The federal government funds thousands of programs, including research projects, housing subsidies and educational grants. —Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2025

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, which provides health care and housing for homeless Coloradans, cannot access its regular funding streams that help cover rent for hundreds of people and provide health care for thousands more. —Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English, from house housing (from Anglo-French huce, houce, of Germanic origin) + -ing; akin to Middle High German hulft covering

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing housing

• housing development
• housing estate
• housing project
• housing starts
• housing stock
• low-income housing
• social housing

Kids Definition

housing

1 of 2 noun

hous·​ing

ˈhau̇-ziŋ

1

a

: the shelter of a temporary or permanent structure (as a tent or house) : lodging

b

: dwellings provided for people

housing for the elderly

2

a

: something that covers or protects

b

: a support (as a frame) for mechanical parts

housing

2 of 2 noun

: caparison sense 1