apartment

The word “apartment” means a self-contained set of rooms for living in, forming part of a larger building; a flat. In plain terms, a home that's one unit within a bigger building, rather than a standalone house.

“Apartment” is pronounced uh-PAHT-muhnt (/əˈpɑɹt.mənt/ in IPA).

Here is “apartment” used in a sentence: “They rented a one-bedroom apartment near the university.”

“Apartment” is a noun.

The word “apartment” comes from French. From French appartement, from Italian appartamento, related to "apart" — originally meaning a separated part of a building.

“Apartment” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Apartment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a self-contained set of rooms for living in, forming part of a larger building; a flat.

There is essentially no difference in meaning — both are self-contained homes within a larger building. 'Apartment' is the usual word in American English, while 'flat' is standard in British English. In some markets 'apartment' also hints at a more modern or upmarket property, but the core meaning is identical.

The distinction is about ownership, not layout. 'Apartment' usually implies a unit that is rented from a landlord, while a condominium, or condo, is a similar unit that the resident owns. The same building can hold both, so the words often describe who holds the keys rather than the design.

An apartment is one self-contained unit inside a larger building, sharing walls, entrances, and often floors with neighbours. A house is a standalone dwelling with its own external walls and usually its own land. Apartments suit denser, urban living; houses offer more space and independence.

A studio apartment is a compact unit in which the living room, bedroom, and kitchen share one open space, with only the bathroom separated. It is typically the smallest and most affordable apartment type, popular with single people and renters in expensive cities where space is at a premium.