household
HOWS-hohld
Household (noun) means All the people who live together in one home, including family and any live-in staff. Example: “The whole household gathered for Sunday dinner.”
noun
1
All the people who live together in one home, including family and any live-in staff.
"The whole household gathered for Sunday dinner."
"Every household on our street received a letter about the new bin collection."
"A large household often has to take turns using the bathroom in the morning."
2
The management and running of a home's day-to-day affairs.
"She handled all the household accounts."
"Running a busy household requires careful planning, patience and a good sense of humour."
"He took charge of the household while his wife was away on business."
adj
1
Belonging to or associated with the home.
"Household chores took up most of Saturday."
"The shop sells household items such as brushes, buckets and light bulbs."
"Rising household bills left the family with less money to spend on treats."
2
Widely known or familiar to the general public.
"After the film's success, her name became a household word."
"That soft drink is such a household name that even small children recognise it."
"Years of television appearances made the chef a household favourite."
How to use household
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the people/things belonging to a home, or (as an adjective) something so well-known it feels part of everyday life.
Common pairings
household name
household chores
household income
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Word forms
- Plural
- households
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The whole _____ gathered for Sunday dinner.
Etymology
From Middle English houshold, formed from house + hold.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for household
See all rhymes for household →Frequently asked questions
What does “household” mean?
The word “household” means all the people who live together in one home, including family and any live-in staff. In plain terms, either the people/things belonging to a home, or (as an adjective) something so well-known it feels part of everyday life.
How do you pronounce “household”?
“Household” is pronounced HOWS-hohld (/ˈhaʊshoʊld/ in IPA).
How do you use “household” in a sentence?
Here is “household” used in a sentence: “The whole household gathered for Sunday dinner.”
What part of speech is “household”?
Depending on how it is used, “household” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “household” come from?
The word “household” comes from Middle English. From Middle English houshold, formed from house + hold.
Is “household” a common word?
“Household” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “household” have?
“Household” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: all the people who live together in one home, including family and any live-in staff.
What is the difference between a household and a family?
A family is a group of people connected by blood, marriage, or adoption, whether or not they live together. A household is everyone who lives in one home, related or not. Flatmates, lodgers, or a single person living alone all count as a household but not as one family.
What is an example of a household?
A household is everyone sharing one home. Examples include a couple and their children, a group of friends renting a flat together, an older person living alone, or a family living alongside a live-in carer. What unites them is the shared home, not necessarily a family relationship.
What is a head of household?
Head of household usually refers to the main person responsible for a home, often the chief earner or decision-maker. The term appears frequently in surveys, official forms, and tax systems, where a single household member is recorded as the primary point of reference for the whole home.
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