houseboat

noun

house·​boat ˈhau̇s-ˌbōt How to pronounce houseboat (audio)
: a boat fitted for use as a dwelling
especially : a pleasure craft with a broad beam, a usually shallow draft, and a large superstructure resembling a house
houseboater noun

Examples of houseboat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Over the whine of the motor, Dre Elmore explained that many of the houseboat people seem to be live-aboard artists and musicians. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024 For a unique lodging option, book one of the 42-foot houseboats, which have kitchens, bathrooms, linens, and air conditioning. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2024 The second time around, his performance earned less acclaim: a jury convicted him on all 10 felony charges, including taking bribes, filing false tax returns, racketeering and forcing his aides to perform chores at his farm and on his houseboat. Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 3 Dec. 2023 The wakeboard boat was tied to the back side of the houseboat, parallel to the bigger boat, the anchor lines from the houseboat running about six feet above the smaller vessel. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2023 From houseboat rentals to tree houses, these are the best glamping spots in Florida. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2024 Those simple expressions of gratitude will hold even more significance for the Salmon family after Tim shattered his left wrist last June in a freak houseboat accident that could have killed him. Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023 Thanks to Florida’s year-round warm weather and wide range of alternative accommodations that include tree houses, houseboats, and tiny homes, the state is a dream destination for glamping. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2024 Also a hippo-sized cat, a possible altar and several other large, mysterious sculptural objects, neighbored by a few yurts, a pen full of goats and a few dozen houseboats in the marina — rustic, artsy houseboats, boldly painted, with a pirate vibe. Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'houseboat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1772, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of houseboat was in 1772

Dictionary Entries Near houseboat

Cite this Entry

“Houseboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/houseboat. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

houseboat

noun
house·​boat ˈhau̇s-ˌbōt How to pronounce houseboat (audio)
: a roomy usually shallow and flat-bottomed pleasure boat equipped for use as a dwelling or for cruising

More from Merriam-Webster on houseboat

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