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 of housing

Noun (1)

• casing
• sheath
• covering
• case
• cover

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

The Emergency Operations Center said in a statement that the approximately 1,690 guests staying at the resort were evacuated to other hotels and nearby housing facilities. —Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 20 June 2026

Idaho is one of the few states that doesn’t put state funding toward affordable housing, meaning groups like Leap depend heavily on federal and city money. —Mark Dee june 19, Idaho Statesman, 19 June 2026

The deal arrives at a time when more endeavors have appeared to create low-cost housing in the Bay Area, including a proposal to develop a 173-unit apartment complex in downtown San Jose that would include 171 affordable homes. —George Avalos, Mercury News, 19 June 2026

The country also set out plans to build an AI industrial park called Kampong AI, set to open in 2028 with workspaces and housing facilities to woo AI start-ups. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 19 June 2026

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

Rhymes for housing

• browsing
• rehousing
• rousing
• arousing
• carousing
• espousing
• warehousing

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