ENGLISH
REFERENCE

roommate

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈɹuˌmeɪt// UK //ɹˈuːmeɪt// room·mate Humorous

n. a person you share a room or an apartment with. In the US, people use this for anyone living in the same home, even if they have their own bedrooms.

n. a person with whom one shares a room or, more broadly in North American English, an apartment or house. Often implies a shared financial responsibility for rent and utilities.


SIMPLE

My roommate always leaves his dirty dishes in the sink.

CONTEXTUAL

After graduating, she looked for a roommate to help split the cost of a two-bedroom apartment downtown.

COMPLEX

Finding a compatible roommate involves more than just shared interests; it requires a mutual understanding of cleanliness standards and social boundaries within the shared living space.

Synonyms
Origin

From room + -mate.

Usage

In North American English, it refers to anyone sharing a residence; in British English, 'flatmate' or 'housemate' is preferred unless the individuals literally share a bedroom.

Pitfall

I live with my roomateI live with my roommateLearners often forget the double 'm' in the middle of the word.

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