household

1 of 2

noun

house·​hold ˈhau̇s-ˌhōld 

ˈhau̇-ˌsōld

: those who dwell under the same roof and compose a family

also : a social unit composed of those living together in the same dwelling

household

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of or relating to a household : domestic

cooking and other household arts

2

: familiar, common

a household name

Synonyms of household

Noun

• house
• home

Adjective

• familial

Examples of household in a Sentence

Noun

At that time, not many households had telephones.

the dish became a household word because of the sudden popularity of the cuisine

Adjective

they spent the weekend at home, attending to household chores

“ozone” is now a household word, thanks to global warming

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here, references to bears (in Bruin’s name, Colin’s fur suit, and Doane’s favorite hockey team), the talismanic power of household appliances, and the sunken earth keep recurring. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026

The Reserve Bank of Australia will likely focus on the strength of private demand before factoring in the conflict, alongside inflation risks stemming from weak productivity and rising unit labor costs, according to Stenner, who expects household consumption to weaken in the second quarter. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 June 2026

Adjective

Poinsettias, with their vibrant red leaves, are often the star of household Christmas decorations. —Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025

Starting October 1st, the brand is ending its Prime Invitee Program, which previously allowed non-household members to enjoy benefits like free shipping. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing household

• head of the household
• household name
• household troops

Rhymes for household

• copyhold
• decontrolled
• hundredfold
• manifold
• marigold
• oversold
• petioled
• sevenfold
• stranglehold
• subthreshold
• thousandfold
• uncontrolled

Kids Definition

household

1 of 2 noun

house·​hold ˈhau̇s-ˌhōld 

ˈhau̇-ˌsōld

: those who live as a family in one house

also : a social unit made up of those living together in the same house

household

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of or relating to a household : domestic

2

: familiar entry 2 sense 3a, common

a household word