roofing

roofing — noun

1. The substances or manufactured products, such as clay tiles, metal sheets, or as

1.nounB2
Definition

The substances or manufactured products, such as clay tiles, metal sheets, or asphalt shingles, that are laid on the top of a building to protect it from rain, snow, and sunlight.

Example

The old roofing on the barn was replaced with metal sheets after the storm.

passive: was replaced with [material]

Rania chose clay roofing for her new house because it keeps the rooms cool.

roofing as a type of building material

Common collocations
  • asphalt roofing
  • metal roofing
  • clay roofing
  • roofing material
  • roofing nails
  • lay roofing
  • roofing felt
Synonyms
  • roof covering

    broader term that includes natural materials such as thatch

  • roofing material

    more explicit and frequently used in building-supply contexts

  • shingles

    refers specifically to overlapping rectangular pieces, not all roofing types

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

Usage Note

Uncountable noun — do not add an article ('a roofing') or use a plural form ('roofings'). For countable references, say 'a type of roofing' or 'pieces of roofing.'

Common Mistakes

I need to buy a roofing for my shed.
I need to buy roofing for my shed.
'roofing' is uncountable and does not take an indefinite article when referring to the material in general.

2. The trade or occupation that involves fitting and sealing roofing materials onto

2.nounB2
Definition

The trade or occupation that involves fitting and sealing roofing materials onto building frames, as well as repairing leaks and broken sections on existing roofs.

Example

After finishing school, Adina started learning roofing from her uncle's construction team.

learn + [trade]

Roofing is dangerous work because workers are high up and use sharp tools all day.

Common collocations
  • do roofing
  • work in roofing
  • roofing company
  • roofing contractor
  • roofing crew
  • career in roofing
Synonyms
  • roofing work

    everyday term used by contractors and homeowners

  • roof construction

    slightly more formal and broader, covering the structural frame as well

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun

Usage Note

Uncountable noun, never plural. Frequently appears after prepositions in set phrases such as 'work in roofing,' 'a career in roofing,' and 'experience in roofing.'

Common Mistakes

He learned many roofings in trade school.
He learned roofing in trade school.
'roofing' is never used in the plural form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Roofing is the broadest uncountable term for the material used on roofs. Roof covering is slightly wider and can include natural options like thatch or turf. Shingles refers specifically to overlapping rectangular pieces (asphalt, wood, or slate) and is countable ('three shingles broke off'). Roofing material is the most explicit, commonly used in hardware stores and building codes. In everyday speech, a homeowner might say 'the roofing needs replacing,' while a contractor would specify 'asphalt shingles' or 'standing-seam metal roofing' when ordering supplies.

roofing ↗roof coveringshinglesroofing material

Common collocations

Nouns

  • roofing contractor
  • roofing business
  • roofing project
  • roofing industry

Phrases

  • type of roofing
  • roofing and construction

Prepositions

  • in roofing

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Roofing is formed by adding the suffix '-ing' to the noun 'roof,' which comes from Old English 'hrōf' meaning the top covering of a building. The '-ing' suffix here creates a noun that names either the material used for the activity (similar to 'plumbing' or 'siding') or the activity itself. The word has been used in English since the 14th century for the material sense, and by the 16th century for the trade sense.