# storey

/ˈstɔɹi/ (US) · /stˈɔːɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/storey
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. floor of a building

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

one of the levels or floors in a building.

For teachers: a horizontal level or floor of a building, including all the rooms on that level.

- They live in a modern apartment on the third storey of the building.
- The local council rejected the proposal for a ten-storey office block, citing concerns that it would overshadow the historic town square.

Usage: The plural is spelled 'storeys'.

Teaching tip: Remind students that 'storey' refers to the physical level of a building, while 'story' usually refers to a tale or narrative in British English.

### 2. typography

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a level in the shape of certain letters, like the two parts of a lowercase 'g'.

For teachers: a vertical level or tier within the structure of certain typographic characters, most notably the 'double-storey' lowercase 'a' and 'g'.

- The font uses a double-storey 'g' which makes it look more traditional.
- Typographers often distinguish between humanist and grotesque typefaces by observing whether the lowercase 'a' is single-storey or double-storey.

Usage: Usually used in the phrases 'single-storey' or 'double-storey' when describing fonts.

Teaching tip: This is a very niche term used by designers and typographers; general learners do not need to produce it.

## Examples

- The new office building is ten storeys high.
- We live in a small house with only one storey, so there are no stairs to climb.
- The architect proposed a multi-storey structure that would maximise the limited urban footprint while providing panoramic views from the upper residential levels.

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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.