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Synonyms

roommate

American  
[room-meyt, room-] / ˈrumˌmeɪt, ˈrʊm- /

noun

  1. a person who is assigned to share or shares a room or apartment with another or others.

roommate British  
/ ˈruːmˌmeɪt, ˈrʊm- /

noun

  1. a person with whom one shares a room or lodging

"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 roommate

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90; room + 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.

That’s what Auf der Maur’s roommate told her the night she came home after thinking that she had offered a sincere but thoughtful declination to the suggestion that she become the bass player in Hole.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

“He was a random roommate and we never had a conversation with him once,” Hopper told The Times in an interview.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

Among those who reacted to Van Der Beek's death was his Dawson's Creek co-star Busy Philipps, who played a university roommate of Joey Potter, portrayed by Katie Holmes.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

Charlotte's own star rookie Knueppel -- a college roommate and teammate of Flagg -- also managed a career-high night, with 34 points.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

My roommate and I head to the very back of the bus.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

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.