dwelling

dwelling — noun

1. a house, apartment, or other building that someone lives in, especially as their

1.nounB2
Definition

a house, apartment, or other building that someone lives in, especially as their permanent home

Example

The old stone dwelling on the hill has been empty for ten years.

formal register: describing a building as a dwelling rather than a home

The Wong family's dwelling was a small wooden house near the river.

collocation: possessive + dwelling

Common collocations
  • build a dwelling
  • occupy a dwelling
  • dwelling place
  • dwelling unit
  • private dwelling
  • permanent dwelling
Synonyms
  • home

    everyday term for where someone lives; less formal than 'dwelling'

  • house

    refers specifically to a single-family building, not an apartment

  • residence

    similar formality to 'dwelling', used in official and legal contexts

Grammar Patterns

someone's + dwelling

dwelling + preposition phrase (in/on/near a place)

Usage Note

More formal than 'home' or 'house'. Frequently used in legal documents, official forms, and real estate contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

I am going back to my dwelling after work.
I am going back to my place after work.
'dwelling' is too formal for casual conversation about daily routines.

Word family

  • dwell
    verbB2
  • dweller
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to places where people live, but they differ in formality and scope. 'Home' is the most common and emotionally warm term — it suggests not just a building but a sense of belonging. 'House' is more physical and specific, referring to a particular type of building (a detached or semi-detached structure). 'Dwelling' is formal and general, covering houses, apartments, and any structure used as living space; it is common in legal and official writing. 'Residence' matches 'dwelling' in formality and is often used for larger or more impressive homes (e.g., 'the ambassador's residence'). 'Lodging' is temporary — a place where one stays for a short time, such as a hotel or rented room. For everyday speech, use 'home' or 'house'; reserve 'dwelling' for formal documents ('the property includes a two-bedroom dwelling').

home ↗house ↗residence ↗lodging

Common collocations

Nouns

  • dwelling unit
  • dwelling place
  • dwelling house

Phrases

  • place of dwelling
  • private dwelling
  • permanent dwelling
  • dwelling for rent

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Derived from the Old English word 'dwellan', which originally meant 'to lead one astray' but later shifted to mean 'to remain, stay, or live in a place'. By the 13th century, the noun 'dwelling' had emerged to describe the place where someone lives or stays.