unhoused
/ˌʌnˈhaʊzd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌʌnˈhaʊzd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌən-ˈhau̇zd/ (ame, mw)
unhoused — adjective
- unhousedpositive
- more unhousedcomparative
- most unhousedsuperlative
1. not having a home, apartment, or other place where you can live permanently — us
not having a home, apartment, or other place where you can live permanently — used in news reports and official contexts, often because it describes a circumstance (lack of housing) rather than labelling a person
After losing her job, Sirin was unhoused for three months until she found a room.
be + unhoused + [duration]; describes a temporary circumstance
The city council voted to open a new shelter for unhoused residents.
collocation: unhoused residents / unhoused people / unhoused families
Esteban volunteers at a centre that provides hot meals for unhoused families.
Mizuki's report shows that the number of unhoused people has doubled since last year.
The night shelter offers beds and warm clothing for unhoused individuals every winter.
- homeless
more traditional and widely used term; some find it stigmatising because it defines a person by their housing status
- unsheltered
narrower meaning — implies sleeping outdoors or in a place not meant for habitation, rather than just lacking permanent housing
- roofless
rare and more literary; used mainly in British English and poetry
文法句型
unhoused + noun
be + unhoused
用法筆記
Frequently used in news reports, government documents, and social-service contexts as an alternative to 'homeless'. Many advocates prefer 'unhoused' because it describes a lack of housing as a circumstance rather than defining a person's identity. The word is typically used before a noun (unhoused people, unhoused families) or after a linking verb (became unhoused, were left unhoused).