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gatehouse

American  
[geyt-hous] / ˈgeɪtˌhaʊs /

noun

plural

gatehouses

  1. a house at or over a gate, used as a gatekeeper's quarters, fortification, etc.

  2. a house or structure at the gate of a dam, reservoir, etc., with equipment or controls for regulating the flow of water.

gatehouse British  
/ ˈɡeɪtˌhaʊs /

noun

  1. a building above or beside an entrance gate to a city, university, etc, often housing a porter or guard, or (formerly) used as a fortification

  2. a small house at the entrance to the grounds of a country mansion

  3. a structure that houses the controls operating lock gates or dam sluices

"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 gatehouse

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; gate 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.

The estate also features a three-bedroom beach house, a three-bedroom guest apartment, and a four-bedroom gatehouse, which has since been sold.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 9, 2025

According to its report, Queen Elizabeth was seen "pacing casually" with her sister Princess Margaret on the road by the gatehouse to the castle when the president drove up with Prince Philip just before noon.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2025

Then, as usual, he’ll bunk down in the Evergreen gatehouse, near the room where Weaver set up his camera.

From New York Times • Nov. 18, 2022

Hawaii Loa Ridge is a private subdivision in East Honolulu that boasts tennis courts, parks, a clubhouse and gatehouse security, according to the homeowners association website.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2022

The gold cloaks had confined Ser Cleos to a win- dowless guardroom in the gatehouse.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Definitions 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.