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Glite Dictionary
duplex house

duplex house

3.5
A house divided into two homes that share a wall or floor
  • noun
  • /ˈduːplɛks haʊs/
  • US
translation icon : casa dúplex
  • They decided to buy a duplex house so they could live in one unit and rent out the other.

Examples

  • The duplex house has a shared driveway and a common wall between the two homes.

  • The duplex house features two separate entrances for each living unit, making it ideal for family members.

  • She grew up in a duplex house with her grandparents living next door.

  • They live in a duplex house near the park.

  • Do you prefer a duplex house or a single-family home?

  • After their wedding, they moved into a duplex house that had a beautiful garden shared with their neighbors.

  • Living in a duplex house allows you to have your own space while still being close to another household.

Synonyms

duplex
vsduplex house
  • US
16 3.5

A building divided into two separate homes, often one above the other

refers only to a house split into two units that share a wall or floor

Antonyms

single dwelling
  • UK
2.9

A house that stands alone and is not attached to other houses

How Many Units

multifamily
1 4.1
triplex
  • US
1 5.2
duplex house
  • US
3.5

Surface Forms

duplex house singular
duplex houses plural

Morphology

duplex + house

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'duplex' (a building with two separate units or two floors) with 'house' (a residential building). This is a straightforward compositional noun–noun combination following common building/property terminology (and similar forms exist in many languages), so a learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the overall meaning.

Etymology

The phrase duplex house paints a simple image: one building that holds two homes, often side by side and sharing a wall. The word duplex means 'two' and house means home, so the term now means a house divided into two separate living units.