bungalow
Americannoun
-
bungalows
plural
-
a cottage of one story.
-
(in India) a one-storied thatched or tiled house, usually surrounded by a veranda.
-
(in the U.S.) a derivation of the Indian house type, popular especially during the first quarter of the 20th century, usually having one and a half stories, a widely bracketed gable roof, and a multi-windowed dormer and frequently built of rustic materials.
noun
-
a one-storey house, sometimes with an attic
-
(in India) a one-storey house, usually surrounded by a veranda
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bungalow
First recorded in 1670–80, bungalow is from the Hindi word banglā literally, of Bengal
Explanation
A bungalow is a little house. If you’re not ready for the three-story house in the suburbs just yet, you might try living in a bungalow. The word bungalow was originally used to describe the temporary houses set up by English sailors traveling to India to work for the East India Company. These little houses were often just one story high with a thatched roof. Nowadays, the word bungalow can be used to describe any one story house. Think of the little cabin you slept in at summer camp — that’s a kind of bungalow.
Vocabulary lists containing bungalow
There's No Word Like Home
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began" by Art Spiegelman
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Perhaps it’s a bungalow bursting with character that’s been calling your name since childhood, but has been in the same family for generations.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
She sold the adorable Victorian bungalow 13 years later for $950,000.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
Monroe had a copy of Agnes de Mille’s memoir delivered to her bungalow at the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles in October 1960.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Human bones found in the garden of a bungalow in south-east London are being examined by the Met Police.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
It was a small bungalow in a run-down part of the city that Rowan hadn’t even known existed.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Three bungalows in Stonehouse Avenue were severely damaged, with two, including Paula's home, losing their roofs completely.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
These newly wealthy-on-paper buyers are checking out bungalows and high-rise apartments with asking prices around $1.2 million to $1.5 million.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 13, 2026
Students returned to the campus Tuesday in temporary bungalows — as permanent construction proceeds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2025
But unlike Miami where it "arrived as a projection of leisure or spectacle", in Mumbai the "style resonated across various building typologies, including schools, cinemas, bungalows, petrol stations and banks," Mr Kumar said.
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2025
Through the grimy window it was all ugly big sideboards you get in grandparents' bungalows.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
