houseboat

noun

house·​boat ˈhau̇s-ˌbōt How to pronounce houseboat (audio)
: 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 noun

Examples of houseboat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It’s crowded with houseboats, fishing vessels, roving vendors in sampans, and multi-story floating restaurants that drew tourists until the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to shutter. H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 6 June 2025 In the proceeding years, visitors who wanted to spend the night in the park could rent houseboats, erect tents, or park their camper vans or RVs, but the nearest hotel was located about an hour away in Florida City. Mariette Williams, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025 Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park and nearby marinas offer rentals of fishing boats, houseboats, pontoon boats, jet skis, and more. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 16 June 2025 A cut above traditional houseboats, Koto’s design-forward structures strike a perfect balance between form and function. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for houseboat

Word History

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of houseboat was in 1772

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Cite this Entry

“Houseboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/houseboat. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

houseboat

noun
house·​boat ˈhau̇s-ˌbōt How to pronounce houseboat (audio)
: a roomy usually shallow and flat-bottomed pleasure boat equipped for use as a dwelling or for cruising

More from Merriam-Webster on houseboat

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