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cohousing

American  
[koh-hou-zing] / koʊˈhaʊ zɪŋ /

noun

  1. a cooperative living arrangement in which people build a cluster of single-family houses around a common building for shared meals, child care, guest rooms, etc.

  2. the cluster of houses with the common building.


Etymology

Origin of cohousing

First recorded in 1985–90

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.

They spent 10 years finding land in Silicon Valley, recruiting members, designing and building the community with the help of a well-known cohousing architect, Charles Durrett.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2025

The Burwens, now 78 and 80, coach others building cohousing developments in the Bay area.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2025

The association always advises people planning such communities to partner with experienced cohousing developers to minimize their risks, she said.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2022

If Choiss is successful, it would become the location for one of the first cohousing projects to get off the ground in Scotland.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2021

Advertising itself as an “urban, intentional community,” the cohousing community I visited features a modern, stylish building designed primarily for seniors and, according to its website, is home to 36 “lively and creative” individuals.

From Washington Post • Feb. 7, 2020