houseboat

noun

house·​boat ˈhau̇s-ˌbōt 

: a boat fitted for use as a dwelling

especially : a pleasure craft with a broad beam, a usually shallow draft, and a large superstructure resembling a house

houseboater

ˈhau̇s-ˌbō-tər 

noun

Examples of houseboat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Renderings show a giant Ferris wheel overlooking the skyline, a splash park that converts to an ice-skating ribbon in winter, upgrades to the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, and a marina with houseboats, day slips and a public pier. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Cady had injected some narcotic into a Georgia peach to knock Natalie out ahead of his confrontation with Crystal on the houseboat, but Ray snooping around on the Bowdens’s behalf led to this deadly improvisation. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 July 2026

The park's network of lakes and forests is best explored by boat, and many visitors opt to stay on a houseboat, using it as a floating basecamp for fishing, swimming, kayaking, and quiet afternoons on the water. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 30 June 2026

Bella's parents, who live on a houseboat and travel through the Pacific Northwest's San Juan Islands year-round, were concerned for her safety at first, despite their own unconventional living situation. — Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 21 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for houseboat

• anecdote
• antidote
• asymptote
• creosote
• dimethoate
• epidote
• ferryboat
• motorboat
• overcoat
• petticoat
• riverboat
• undercoat

Kids Definition

houseboat

noun

house·​boat ˈhau̇s-ˌbōt 

: a roomy usually shallow and flat-bottomed pleasure boat equipped for use as a dwelling or for cruising