Definition

A person who visits and stays temporarily in someone else's home.

Example

We invited a houseguest to stay with us for the weekend.

Conversation

I heard you have a houseguest this weekend.

Yeah, my cousin is coming to stay with us for a few days.

That sounds fun! Do you have any plans for the time they'll be there?

We're thinking of going hiking and exploring the city together.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Houseguest → It is formed from "house" (from Old English *hus*, meaning a dwelling or shelter) and "guest" (from Old English *gæst*, meaning a visitor or stranger). The word "houseguest" refers to a visitor who stays at someone's home.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'dwelling' ('house') where a 'visitor' ('guest') comes to stay — that's what a houseguest is.

Visually Confused Words