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Glite Dictionary
rough sleeper

rough sleeper

7.1
A person who sleeps outside because they have no home
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : persona sin hogar
  • She spent six months as a rough sleeper in the city parks.

OK, we're eight of us are out scouring the streets looking for rough sleepers.

Examples

  • The local shelter opened its doors to every rough sleeper during the cold snap.

  • Outreach workers know how hard life is for a rough sleeper in winter.

  • A rough sleeper was found in the park last night.

  • The city has many rough sleepers during the winter.

  • The charity provides warm meals and clothing for rough sleepers in the city.

  • Many rough sleepers seek refuge in abandoned buildings during the cold winter months.

  • Local organizations work tirelessly to support rough sleepers and help them find permanent housing.

Synonyms

homeless person
vsrough sleeper
76 2.3

A person who has no home and often lives on the streets

focuses specifically on sleeping outdoors and in places not meant for living
homeless
vsrough sleeper
73 1.6

A person who has no home to live in

is specific to sleeping outdoors rather than a general lack of a home
tramp
vsrough sleeper
  • Informal
28 6.1

A person who has no home and travels, often begging or doing casual work

focuses on sleeping outdoors rather than nomadic travel or casual work
vagrant
vsrough sleeper
25 7.7

A person who has no home and moves from place to place, often begging

is about sleeping outdoors rather than wandering or making a living by begging
street person
vsrough sleeper
11 5.6

A person without a home who sleeps outdoors or in public places

focuses on sleeping outdoors rather than on being mainly visible to people
roughie
vsrough sleeper
  • Slang
9.9

A person who sleeps outdoors and has no home

is the neutral term used in formal or official contexts
unhoused
vsrough sleeper
6.7

People who do not have a permanent home

is about sleeping outdoors or in unsuitable places rather than broad housing status
dosser
vsrough sleeper
  • UK
9.9

A person who sleeps wherever they can because they have no home

focuses on sleeping outdoors or in makeshift places rather than temporary sleeping
doser
vsrough sleeper
  • Slang
9.9

A person who sleeps in temporary places without a permanent home

emphasizes sleeping outdoors or in unsuitable places rather than using temporary shelter

Antonyms

homeowner
216 2.5

A person who owns the house or apartment where they live

How Sheltered

inhabitation
1 6.6
shelter
344 1.1
hostel
34 2.1
rough sleeper
  • UK
7.1

Surface Forms

rough sleeper singular
rough sleepers plural

Morphology

rough + sleeper

The meaning 'a person who sleeps outdoors or in harsh conditions' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'rough' (harsh, difficult conditions) with 'sleeper' (a person who sleeps). This adjective+noun composition follows normal English patterns and is conceptually straightforward, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Rough sleeper comes from a simple picture of someone sleeping on rough ground or on the street. Rough means hard and uncomfortable and sleeper means a person who sleeps, so the phrase describes someone who must 'sleep outside' because they 'have no home'.