outhouse

noun

out·​house ˈau̇t-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce outhouse (audio)
plural outhouses ˈau̇t-ˌhau̇-zəz How to pronounce outhouse (audio)
 also  -səz
: outbuilding
… barns, stables, and other outhousesWayne R. LaFave and Austin W. Scott, Jr.
especially : privy sense 1a
They lived in an off-the-grid cabin with an out-door kitchen and an outhouse. Diane Daniel
Royal Cove's official outhouse didn't have a name, so we dubbed it Maggie's Loo, in honor of Princess Margaret of Great Britain. John Vigor
He calls an outhouse a toilet, because the only toilets his family had while he was growing up were outhouses. David Owen

Examples of outhouse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At Pescadero State Beach, a lone, ominous outhouse stood in the parking lot overlooking the ocean. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2025 One of their aspirations was to stumble on the flattened traces of an outhouse, with feces and trash. Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025 Experts think waste from the toilet funneled into an underground holding chamber, similar to those used in outhouses or portable toilets. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025 In just one week, our group alongside community partners, painted an elementary school, mixed cement for outhouses and wells in villages, and assembled and delivered water filters to homes. Gina Grillo, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outhouse

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outhouse was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Outhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outhouse. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

outhouse

noun
out·​house ˈau̇t-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce outhouse (audio)

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