English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

duplex

DOO-plehks

Duplex (noun) means a house divided into two separate living units, or a single home with two floors. Example: “They rented one half of a duplex near the university.”

noun
1
A house divided into two separate living units, or a single home with two floors.
"They rented one half of a duplex near the university."
"The new duplex has a bedroom upstairs and living space downstairs."
adj
1
Made up of two matching parts, or working in two directions at once.
"The intercom uses duplex communication so both sides can talk simultaneously."

How to use duplex

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething built or working in two matched parts — most commonly a two-family house.

Common pairings
duplex apartment duplex house full duplex

Word forms

duplexed past tense, duplexes plural, duplices plural, duplexes singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “duplex” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They rented one half of a _____ near the university.

Etymology

From Latin duplex, "twofold," from duo ("two") plus plicare ("to fold").

Origin: Latin

duplex house duplex apartment semidetached house

Frequently asked questions

What does “duplex” mean?

The word “duplex” means a house divided into two separate living units, or a single home with two floors. In plain terms, something built or working in two matched parts — most commonly a two-family house.

How do you pronounce “duplex”?

“Duplex” is pronounced DOO-plehks (/ˈdu.plɛks/ in IPA).

How do you use “duplex” in a sentence?

Here is “duplex” used in a sentence: “They rented one half of a duplex near the university.”

What part of speech is “duplex”?

Depending on how it is used, “duplex” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “duplex” come from?

The word “duplex” comes from Latin. From Latin duplex, "twofold," from duo ("two") plus plicare ("to fold").

Is “duplex” a common word?

“Duplex” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “duplex” have?

“Duplex” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a house divided into two separate living units, or a single home with two floors.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial