henhouse

IPA/ˈhen.haʊs/
KK[hˈɛnhˌaʊs]IPA/ˈhen.haʊs/

henhouse — noun

  • henhousesingular
  • henhousesplural

1. A small covered structure, usually built from wood, that gives chickens a safe p

1.nounB1
Definition

A small covered structure, usually built from wood, that gives chickens a safe place to live and lay eggs.

Example

Zola built a new henhouse in her backyard for her four chickens.

build + henhouse as direct object

The old wooden henhouse needed a new roof after the winter storms.

adjective + henhouse: wooden henhouse

Common collocations
  • wooden henhouse
  • backyard henhouse
  • build a henhouse
  • lock the henhouse
  • henhouse door
Synonyms
  • coop

    more informal and slightly smaller in size; refers specifically to a cage or enclosure

  • chicken coop

    the most common everyday term for a small backyard henhouse

Grammar Patterns

a henhouse

the henhouse

hens + in + the henhouse

Usage Note

Often used for backyard or small-scale setups. In everyday speech, this sense is frequently called a chicken coop.

2. A big farm building designed to house a large number of chickens for commercial

2.nounB1
Definition

A big farm building designed to house a large number of chickens for commercial egg or meat production.

Example

The farm's main henhouse holds over two thousand laying hens.

size modifier + henhouse: farm's main henhouse

Workers clean the henhouse every morning before collecting the fresh eggs.

clean + the henhouse [verb + object]

Common collocations
  • farm henhouse
  • commercial henhouse
  • clean the henhouse
  • inside the henhouse
  • henhouse temperature
Synonyms
  • poultry house

    a broader term that can include housing for turkeys, ducks, and other birds; more technical

  • layer house

    industry-specific term for a building that houses egg-laying hens

Grammar Patterns

a henhouse

the henhouse

hens + in + the henhouse

Usage Note

This sense refers specifically to commercial or large-scale poultry operations. A henhouse of this size is usually called a poultry house or layer house in the farming industry.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Henhouse is a general term for any building where chickens live. Coop and chicken coop are the most common everyday words for a small, often wooden structure in a backyard — they suggest a cosier, smaller space. Poultry house is more formal and technical, used mainly in farming and agriculture for larger buildings that hold many birds. Pen usually refers to an outdoor fenced area rather than an enclosed building, so a pen does not offer the same protection from weather and predators. For example, you might say 'The chickens sleep in the henhouse at night but roam in the pen during the day.'

henhouse ↗coop ↗chicken cooppoultry housepen ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • henhouse door
  • henhouse roof
  • henhouse floor
  • henhouse temperature

Phrases

  • lock the henhouse
  • clean the henhouse
  • build a henhouse

Prepositions

  • in the henhouse
  • into the henhouse
  • out of the henhouse
  • inside the henhouse

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

A compound word formed in Middle English from 'hen' (the female of the domestic chicken, from Old English 'henn') and 'house' (a dwelling or shelter, from Old English 'hūs'). The term has been used since around the 14th century for any structure built to shelter chickens and other domestic fowl.