Word
outhouse
Phoneticsout·house, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈaʊtˌhaʊs/
UK/ˈaʊthaʊs/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small building outside a house, often used as a toilet when there is no indoor bathroom.
n. a small detached structure serving as an outdoor toilet, typically without plumbing. Also used more broadly for any small outbuilding separate from the main house.
Examples
“They use an outhouse behind the old cabin.”
“The farmhouse has no indoor plumbing, so guests use the wooden outhouse at the edge of the yard.”
“The abandoned outhouse leaned against the wind, its door hanging open as a reminder of winters before the village received running water.”
Examples
simple
“They use an outhouse behind the old cabin.”
contextual
“The farmhouse has no indoor plumbing, so guests use the wooden outhouse at the edge of the yard.”
complex
“The abandoned outhouse leaned against the wind, its door hanging open as a reminder of winters before the village received running water.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “outhouse” in context.
Verb
01. build outhouse
“They decided to build an outhouse until indoor plumbing was installed.”
verb + noun
02. go to outhouse
“She grabbed a lantern to go to the outhouse at night.”
verb + prep + noun
03. outhouse stands
“A tiny outhouse stands at the bottom of the garden.”
noun + verb
04. repair outhouse
“My uncle helped repair the outhouse after the storm damaged the roof.”
verb + noun
05. use outhouse
“Visitors had to use the outhouse during the winter festival.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. dilapidated outhouse
“A dilapidated outhouse stood at the far corner of the property.”
adj + noun
07. old outhouse
“The old outhouse behind the farmhouse is no longer used.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. back of outhouse
“Firewood was stacked neatly at the back of the outhouse.”
noun + prep + noun
09. door of outhouse
“He left his boots by the door of the outhouse.”
noun + prep + noun
10. built a wooden outhouse
“They built a wooden outhouse behind the summer cabin.”
11. clean out the outhouse
“Every spring he would clean out the outhouse thoroughly.”
12. go out to the outhouse
“At night we had to go out to the outhouse with a torch.”
Etymology
From Middle English outhous, equivalent to out- + house. Compare Old Norse úthús (“outhouse”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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