roommate

IPA/ˈruːm.meɪt/
KK[rˈumˌet]IPA/ˈruːm.meɪt/

roommate — noun

  • roommatesingular
  • roommatesplural

1. a person who shares a bedroom or dormitory room with you for a limited period, s

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who shares a bedroom or dormitory room with you for a limited period, such as a college term, a hospital stay, or a summer camp session.

Example

Talia's first-year roommate at the dorm was from a small town in the south.

possessive: [person]'s + first-year roommate

When Esme was in the hospital, her roommate was an elderly woman who loved knitting.

hospital context: hospital roommate

Common collocations
  • dorm roommate
  • hospital roommate
  • camp roommate
  • roommate assignment
  • roommate preferences
Synonyms
  • dormmate

    more specific — refers only to someone sharing a dormitory room, not a hospital room or camp cabin

  • bunkmate

    informal — used especially at camps or hostels where people sleep in bunk beds

Grammar Patterns

[possessor]'s roommate

roommate + [preference/assignment]

Usage Note

Commonly used in college, university, and hospital settings. The arrangement is usually limited in duration — a semester, a hospital stay, or a camp session. In dorms, roommate assignments are often handled by the institution rather than chosen by the occupants.

Common Mistakes

My roommate and colleague Sarah.
My roommate Sarah is also my colleague.
'roommate' describes a living arrangement, not a work relationship; pair it with 'colleague' or 'coworker' for work ties.

2. a person who shares a rented apartment, house, or other living space with you on

2.nounB1
Definition

a person who shares a rented apartment, house, or other living space with you on an ongoing basis, typically splitting rent and household responsibilities.

Example

Lara found a roommate through an ad to split the rent on a two-bedroom flat.

collocation: find a roommate / split the rent

Anya's roommate always left dirty dishes in the sink, which caused arguments.

collocation: roommate conflict over housework

Common collocations
  • find a roommate
  • roommate agreement
  • split rent with a roommate
  • roommate conflict
  • share an apartment with a roommate
  • roommate matching service
Synonyms
  • housemate

    common in British and Australian English for someone sharing a house; less common in US English

  • flatmate

    UK-specific term for someone sharing a flat or apartment

  • suitemate

    mostly US college context — someone who shares a suite of rooms but may have their own bedroom

Antonyms
  • landlord

    the person who owns the property and rents it out, not the person sharing the living space

Grammar Patterns

[possessor]'s roommate

find/have/get + a roommate

Usage Note

In informal American English, 'roommate' is the default term even when the two people do not sleep in the same bedroom — it often simply means 'housemate.' British and Australian English prefer 'housemate' (shared house) or 'flatmate' (shared apartment). The responsibilities typically include splitting rent, utilities, and household chores.

Common Mistakes

My roommate is the owner of the apartment.
My roommate rents the apartment with me.
A 'roommate' shares the living space as an equal tenant; the property owner is the 'landlord,' not a roommate.

Word family

  • roomies
    noun (plural / informal)B1
  • roomie
    noun (informal)B1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe someone you share living space with, but they differ by region, formality, and arrangement. 'Roommate' is the most general term in American English and is used even when people have separate bedrooms in a shared apartment. 'Housemate' is preferred in British, Australian, and New Zealand English for people sharing a house — it is rarely used in the US. 'Flatmate' is UK-specific for sharing a flat (apartment); it is not understood in most American contexts. 'Suitemate' is a narrower US college term for someone who shares a suite of rooms (common area + private bedrooms) — it does not apply to off-campus apartments. For everyday use with a global audience, 'roommate' is the safest choice. Example: 'My British colleagues call the person they share a house with a housemate, but my American friends just say roommate.'

roommate ↗housemate ↗flatmate ↗suitemate

Common collocations

Nouns

  • roommate search
  • roommate situation
  • roommate drama
  • roommate agreement

Phrases

  • roommate from hell
  • roommate matching service

Prepositions

  • with (live with a roommate)
  • of (the roommate of someone)

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle Low GermanEnglish

Formed by combining the English word 'room' (from Old English rūm, meaning 'space, chamber') with 'mate' (from Middle Low German māt, meaning 'comrade, one who shares food at the same table'). The compound 'roommate' first appeared in American English in the late 1700s, initially referring to people sharing a sleeping room at boarding schools, inns, or on ships. Over the 19th and 20th centuries, its meaning broadened to include anyone sharing a house or apartment, even if they had separate bedrooms.