noun
outhouse
OWT-hows
Outhouse (noun) means a small outdoor toilet built as a separate structure, typically without plumbing. Example: “The old cabin still had an outhouse instead of indoor plumbing.”
noun
1
A small outdoor toilet built as a separate structure, typically without plumbing.
"The old cabin still had an outhouse instead of indoor plumbing."
2
Any small building separate from the main house.
"The children had explored the gardens and the outhouses thoroughly before they were caught and cleaned for tea, and they saw quite well that they were certain to be happy at the White House."
— E. Nesbit, Five Children and It (1902)
"They stored garden tools in the outhouse."
"There was a considerable outhouse, which he unlocked and we entered."
— Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Disintegration Machine (1929)
"Dumbledore pointed toward a run-down stone outhouse where the Weasleys kept their broomsticks."
— J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
How to use outhouse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small building apart from the main house, especially one used as a toilet.
UK vs US
In the US, this most often means an outdoor toilet; in the UK, it more often refers to any small outbuilding like a shed.
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Word forms
- Plural
- outhouses
- Third person singular
- outhouses
- Past tense
- outhoused
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old cabin still had an _____ instead of indoor plumbing.
Etymology
From Middle English outhous, built from "out-" plus "house."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for outhouse
See all rhymes for outhouse →Frequently asked questions
What does “outhouse” mean?
The word “outhouse” means a small outdoor toilet built as a separate structure, typically without plumbing. In plain terms, a small building apart from the main house, especially one used as a toilet.
How do you pronounce “outhouse”?
“Outhouse” is pronounced OWT-hows (/ˈaʊthaʊs/ in IPA).
How do you use “outhouse” in a sentence?
Here is “outhouse” used in a sentence: “The old cabin still had an outhouse instead of indoor plumbing.”
What is another word for “outhouse”?
Words with a similar meaning to “outhouse” include backhouse, backside, bog, boggard, boghouse and carsey.
What part of speech is “outhouse”?
“Outhouse” is a noun.
Where does the word “outhouse” come from?
The word “outhouse” comes from Middle English. From Middle English outhous, built from "out-" plus "house.".
How many meanings does “outhouse” have?
“Outhouse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small outdoor toilet built as a separate structure, typically without plumbing.
