Meaning & use
accommodation
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Meanings
noununcountableBritish
A place to live or stay, such as a room, flat, dormitory, or house, especially arranged for travelers or students.
Grammar: Usually no plural in British English: find accommodation; American English often says accommodations.
Patterns
- find accommodation
- provide accommodation
- temporary accommodation
- accommodation for someone
We found affordable accommodation within walking distance of campus.
The university provides accommodation for most first-year students.
Temporary accommodation was arranged after the flood damaged their home.
nouncountable
A change, adjustment, or compromise made to meet needs or settle a disagreement.
Grammar: Can take a/an and a plural: an accommodation; compare uncountable lodging above.
Patterns
- make an accommodation
- reach an accommodation
- an accommodation between people
- accommodation to something
The two sides reached an accommodation after months of negotiation.
The company made an accommodation for employees observing religious holidays.
Small accommodations during the transition reduced stress for the whole team.
Common combinations
- student accommodation
- Student accommodation near campus fills quickly in August.
- find accommodation
- They found accommodation through a local housing office.
- provide accommodation
- The program provides accommodation for visiting researchers.
- reach an accommodation
- The union and management finally reached an accommodation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lodging
- Also uncountable in British English; slightly more formal and often short-term.
- housing
- Broader and often long-term; accommodation can be temporary or official.
- adjustment
- Best for a change to fit needs; it does not mean a place to stay.
- compromise
- Emphasizes settling disagreement, while accommodation can be one-sided.
Word family
- accommodate verb
- To provide space, hold people, or adjust to needs.
- accommodating adjective
- Willing to help or adapt.
- accommodative adjective
- Formal: tending to adapt or reconcile.
Commonly confused: accommodation or accommodations? accommodation or adaption?
accommodation vs accommodations
In American English, accommodations often means lodgings; British English usually keeps accommodation uncountable.
accommodation vs adaption
Not the usual form; use adjustment or adaptation for a change, and accommodation for lodging.
Practice
In British English, which sentence is most natural for lodging?
Choose one answer.
For lodging, British English normally uses accommodation without a/an or plural. Accommodations is common in American English, while an accommodation usually suggests an adjustment or settlement.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “accommodation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.