cabin

American  

[kab-in] / ˈkæb ɪn /

noun

1. a small house or cottage, usually of simple design and construction.

   He was born in a cabin built of rough logs.

   Synonyms:

   cottage, shack, shanty, cot

2. an enclosed space for more or less temporary occupancy, as the living quarters in a trailer or the passenger space in a cable car.

3. the enclosed space for the pilot, cargo, or especially passengers in an air or space vehicle.

4. an apartment or room in a ship, as for passengers.

5. cabin class.

6. (in a naval vessel) living accommodations for officers.

   Synonyms:

   compartment

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adverb

1. in cabin-class accommodations or by cabin-class conveyance.

   to travel cabin.

verb (used without object)

1. to live in a cabin.

   They cabin in the woods on holidays.

verb (used with object)

1. to confine; enclose tightly; cramp.

cabin British  

/ ˈkæbɪn /

noun

1. a small simple dwelling; hut

2. a simple house providing accommodation for travellers or holiday-makers at a motel or holiday camp

3. a room used as an office or living quarters in a ship

4. a covered compartment used for shelter or living quarters in a small boat

5. (in a warship) the compartment or room reserved for the commanding officer

6. another name for signal box

7. 1. the enclosed part of a light aircraft in which the pilot and passengers sit

   2. the part of an airliner in which the passengers are carried

   3. the section of an aircraft used for cargo

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verb

1. to confine in a small space

Other Word Forms

• uncabined adjective

Etymology

Origin of cabin

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English cabane, from Middle French, from Old Provençal cabana, from Late Latin capanna, of uncertain, perhaps pre-Latin origin; spelling with “i” perhaps by influence of French cabine ( cabinet )

Example Sentences

Ireland, his girlfriend, who works as an EasyJet cabin crew member, was the passenger.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

The bright orange suits are worn during takeoff and re-entry, but also emergency situations, such as cabin depressurization.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

Columnist Dawn Gilbertson tests out whether the perks in United’s Polaris business-class cabin are worth the price.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Passengers flying out of Atlanta March 23 and 24 were allowed to rebook travel for any date through March 30 at no extra cost, provided they book a seat in the same cabin.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

Maybe there were people in the cabin, and hot cocoa to drink.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Related Words

• box
• camp
• chalet
• compartment
• cottage
• home
• hut
• lodge
• room
• shack
• shanty
• shed
• shelter