Word
duplex
Phoneticsdu·plex
US/ˈduˌpɫɛks/
UK/djˈuːplɛks/
Definition
n. a building that is divided into two separate homes. Each home has its own entrance, but they share a common wall.
n. a residential building divided into two separate apartments or living units. In North American English, it typically refers to a single structure containing two dwellings, either side-by-side or on different floors.
Examples
“They live in one half of a duplex near the park.”
“The developer plans to build a duplex on the empty lot to provide housing for two families.”
“While a detached house offers more privacy, purchasing a duplex can be a strategic investment if the owner chooses to live in one unit while renting out the other.”
Examples
simple
“They live in one half of a duplex near the park.”
contextual
“The developer plans to build a duplex on the empty lot to provide housing for two families.”
complex
“While a detached house offers more privacy, purchasing a duplex can be a strategic investment if the owner chooses to live in one unit while renting out the other.”
Usage
In British English, the term more commonly refers to an apartment with rooms on two floors.
Real-World Examples
“This includes duplexes, apartment buildings or anything other than a single-family home.” Etymology
PIE word *dwóh₁ Borrowed from Latin duplex (“double, two-fold”), from duo (“two”) + plico (“fold together”); compare the roots of διπλόος (diplóos, “double”); compare also πλέκω (plékō, “twist, braid”). By surface analysis, duo- + -plex.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/duplex