# roundhouse

/ˈɹaʊndˌhaʊs/ (US) · /ɹˈaʊndhaʊs/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/roundhouse
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a round building with a circular shape. In the past, this word was often used for houses or small buildings on ships.

For teachers: a building or structure with a circular plan. Historically used for various purposes including residential dwellings and nautical signal stations.

## Examples

- The old roundhouse still stands by the river.
- Archaeologists discovered the remains of a stone roundhouse that had been inhabited during the Bronze Age.
- While the term is now largely archaic, historical records indicate that the roundhouse served as a vital storage facility for the ship's provisions and navigational instruments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.