Definition

1. Noun:
   • A house with two separate living units that share a common wall: A "duplex house" is a single residential building divided into two distinct, self-contained apartments or living spaces, typically arranged side-by-side or one above the other, with a shared wall between them.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • They decided to buy a duplex house, living in one unit and renting out the other.
  • The city has many charming duplex houses built in the early 20th century.

Advanced Usage

• "to live in a duplex": to reside in one unit of a duplex house.
  • After college, she saved money by living in a duplex with a roommate in the other unit.

Variants and Related Words

• Duplex (noun): A more general term for a building divided into two separate residences; often used interchangeably with "duplex house."

  • They are looking for a duplex to purchase as an investment property.

• Semi-detached house (noun, chiefly British English): A house that is joined to another house on one side by a common wall; similar in concept but often refers to two separate properties (each owned individually) rather than a single property with two rental units.

Synonyms

• Two-family house: A house designed to accommodate two separate families.
• Twin home: A term sometimes used for two houses that share a common wall.

Related Phrases

• Duplex apartment: An apartment that spans two floors connected by an internal staircase, which is a different meaning from a "duplex house." This is listed here to avoid confusion, as it is a related but distinct term.

Noun

1. a house with two units sharing a common wall