ENGLISH
REFERENCE

housing

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈhaʊzɪŋ// UK //hˈaʊzɪŋ// hous·ing General-service

n. buildings or structures where people live. It is often used when talking about the price, quality, or availability of homes in a city.

n. buildings or other shelters in which people live; the provision of accommodation. Often used in a collective sense to refer to the residential stock of a specific area.


SIMPLE

The city needs more affordable housing for young families.

CONTEXTUAL

Local government officials are meeting today to discuss the urgent need for new housing developments near the train station.

COMPLEX

Urban planners must balance the demand for high-density housing with the preservation of green spaces to maintain the city's overall quality of life.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English housynge, housinge, from housen (“to house, shelter; receive into one's house”), equivalent to house + -ing. Cognate with Scots housing (“housing”), Old Frisian hūsinge (whence Saterland Frisian Huzenge); compare also Dutch huizing, behuizing (“housing”), Low German husing, hüsing (“housing”), German Behausung (“housing”), Swedish inhysing (“housing”).

Etymology 2

From house + -ing.

Usage

The noun is uncountable when referring to the general provision of homes; it does not take a plural form in this context.

Pitfall

There are many housings in this city.There is a lot of housing in this city.Housing is uncountable when referring to residential buildings collectively; use 'houses' or 'units' if you need a countable noun.

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