outhouse

noun

out·​house ˈau̇t-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce outhouse (audio)
plural outhouses ˈau̇t-ˌhau̇-zəz How to pronounce outhouse (audio)
 also  -səz
: outbuilding
… barns, stables, and other outhousesWayne R. LaFave and Austin W. Scott, Jr.
especially : privy sense 1a
They lived in an off-the-grid cabin with an out-door kitchen and an outhouse. Diane Daniel
Royal Cove's official outhouse didn't have a name, so we dubbed it Maggie's Loo, in honor of Princess Margaret of Great Britain. John Vigor
He calls an outhouse a toilet, because the only toilets his family had while he was growing up were outhouses. David Owen

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Zach Pascal has a message for anyone who thinks he’s gone from the penthouse of the NFC as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles straight to the conference outhouse as one of the newest members of the Arizona Cardinals. Bob Mcmanaman, The Arizona Republic, 23 May 2023 Sixty-three deaths were reported in the United States between 1950 and 1959, most of which occurred in or around a woodpile or outhouse. Tim Macwelch, Outdoor Life, 3 May 2023 The gap between baseball’s penthouse and outhouse feels like a canyon this season. Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Apr. 2023 There is also a swimming pool, outhouse and garden. William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 26 Jan. 2023 As a result, women and children used chamber pots kept in their bedrooms, and men used an outhouse behind the building, where a makeshift shower had also been rigged. Alyssa Fiorentino, House Beautiful, 20 Apr. 2023 Rooney, 27, was charged last year in connection with the death of his partner, Kozee Decorah, originally of Wittenberg, Wisconsin, whose body was found in May of last year burning in what had been an outhouse in a remote part of a Nebraska reservation. Sarah Volpenhein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2021 Cora muffles her sobs in the outhouse. Steffan Triplett, Vulture, 16 May 2021 Eating food from a can, or maybe potatoes and vegetables cooked on the campfire, and visiting an outhouse or digging a hole in the ground when nature calls. Claire Trageser, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outhouse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outhouse was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near outhouse

Cite this Entry

“Outhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outhouse. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

outhouse

noun
out·​house ˈau̇t-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce outhouse (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on outhouse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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