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

Together, the buildings will have 370 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and six live-work condominiums, with 10% of the apartments reserved as affordable housing for qualified tenants. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026

Pricey rooftops Of course, California housing costs rise as you near the water. —Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026

And nearly half of all Oklahoma households aren’t making enough to afford basic needs like housing and food, according to a United Way report. —Maddy Keyes, The Frontier, 15 Jan. 2026

The challenge, amid a rising population in the region, is caused by lower birth rates, rising housing costs and what some call insufficient funding from the state. —Silas Allen, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 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