granny flat

noun

plural granny flats

chiefly British

: an apartment that is adjacent to the main living quarters of a house

There are four bedrooms in the main house and a granny flat above the garage …

—Fred Redwood

Examples of granny flat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

ADUs, also known as in-law units or granny flats, typically have up to 1,200 square feet of living space and must include a kitchen sink, cooking appliance and separate bathroom. — Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 7 July 2026

One really salient one is around what are called accessory dwelling units, which is a type of housing that's been increasingly common and built out in different parts of the country, often known as granny flats, for example. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Another would permit accessory dwelling units — commonly called granny flats, or ADUs — in backyards across the state. — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2026

They've been called granny flats, carriage houses, or mother-in-law suites. — Lee Cowan, CBS News, 17 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

from its use by parents of the family living in the house

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for granny flat

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat