Definition

A long, shared house used by a group of people, often found in certain Native American and Polynesian cultures.

Example

The tribe gathered in the longhouse for their annual meeting.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a traditional longhouse?

No, I haven't! What are they like?

They're really interesting; they're long and usually built for communal living.

That sounds amazing! I'd love to learn more about their history.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Longhouse → The word is formed from "long" (from Old English "lang", meaning extended in distance) and "house" (from Old English "hus", meaning a dwelling or shelter). A longhouse refers to an extended dwelling, typically used by certain Indigenous peoples of North America and other cultures.

Memory Tip

Think of a dwelling that is 'extended' ('long') — that's why a longhouse is a type of extended shelter.

Visually Confused Words