cardhouse

noun

variants or cardcastle

ˈ⸗ˌ⸗⸗

plural -s

often attributive

: a structure or situation felt to resemble a construction built of playing cards in being insubstantial, unsound, or in constant danger of collapse

a cardhouse plan that collapsed at the first test

called also house of cards

Word History

Etymology

card entry 3 + house or castle

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!