bunkhouse

American

[buhngk-hous] / ˈbʌŋkˌhaʊs /

noun

plural

bunkhouses

a rough building, often with bunk beds, used for sleeping quarters, as for ranch hands, migratory workers, or campers.

bunkhouse British

/ ˈbʌŋkˌhaʊs /

noun

(in the US and Canada) a building containing the sleeping quarters of workers on a ranch

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bunkhouse

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; bunk ¹ + house

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.

Winter downpours brought a torrential river cascading down Yucca Trail, which lies between the leveled lodge and the bunkhouse.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

By this time, a friend of Mr Currie had raised the alarm - as he had not arrived at a bunkhouse in Knoydart as expected.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

Barbier allowed the U.S. court case to proceed involving the allegations that the men were confined to the bunkhouse and treated unfairly, claims invoking U.S. human trafficking and fair housing law.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 27, 2023

At the end of each long day, the harvesting crew returns to their bunkhouse at Tucker Farms, where they split into groups and begin preparing dinner for themselves.

From New York Times • Nov. 22, 2021

After breakfast Jody walked down to the bunkhouse.

From "The Red Pony" by John Steinbeck

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023