housemate

American

[hous-meyt] / ˈhaʊsˌmeɪt /

noun

a person with whom one shares a house or other residence.
a sexual partner with whom one shares a house or other living quarters without being married.

housemate British

/ ˈhaʊsˌmeɪt /

noun

a person who is not part of the same family, but with whom one shares a house

"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 housemate

First recorded in 1800–10; house + mate ¹

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.

"Whether you're living with a partner, housemate, or family, your daily interactions -- from hugging, kissing and sharing food prep spaces -- may encourage the exchange of gut microbes," said Dr. Lee.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

At an estimated 19 years old, Larry has outlasted five prime ministers, upstaged visiting world leaders, and is currently living with his sixth housemate, Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

Hunt even found a housemate for himself at one of the mixers.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

The arrangement helped her housemate save money, but there were unexpected benefits for Castleton, too.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 18, 2025

A close friend and housemate at the Rooses’, Johannes Wilhelmus Weehuizen, died suddenly after being sick for only a few days.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

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