Definition

Noun: A mobile home is a type of dwelling that is manufactured in a factory and then transported to a site. It is designed to be movable, but is typically placed on a semi-permanent or permanent foundation and connected to utilities, serving as a person's primary residence.

Usage

A "mobile home" is used as a singular, countable noun. It refers to the physical structure itself. * They live in a mobile home at the edge of town. * The park has space for fifty mobile homes.

Examples

• After retiring, they sold their house and bought a mobile home.
• The storm damaged several mobile homes in the community.
• Modern mobile homes can be quite spacious and comfortable.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in legal and zoning contexts to distinguish this type of housing from site-built houses or recreational vehicles (RVs).
• While originally designed to be towed, once installed, a mobile home is rarely moved again, leading to the more modern industry term "manufactured home."

Variants and Related Words

• Manufactured Home (n.): A contemporary term often used interchangeably with "mobile home," though it technically refers to homes built to a specific federal building code (HUD Code) after 1976.
• House Trailer (n.): An older, less formal synonym for a mobile home.
• Trailer Park (n.): A piece of land where many mobile homes are placed and rented.

Synonyms

• Manufactured home
• Prefabricated home
• House trailer

Notes on Meaning

• Key Distinction: A "mobile home" is intended for permanent housing, unlike a "camper" or "recreational vehicle (RV)," which is designed for temporary travel and living.
• Historical Context: The term "mobile home" was common for factory-built homes produced before June 15, 1976. Homes built after that date to the federal HUD code are more precisely called "manufactured homes," though "mobile home" remains in widespread colloquial use.

Noun

1. a large house trailer that can be connected to utilities and can be parked in one place and used as permanent housing