Meaning & use
estate house
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableBritish
A house that is part of a planned group of houses built together, especially on a housing estate.
Grammar: Countable: 'an estate house', 'the estate houses'. Often used in British English when talking about public or private housing developments.
Patterns
- an estate house
- on an estate house
- live in an estate house
They moved into a small estate house on the edge of town.
Most of the estate houses were built in the 1960s.
The estate house has a small garden at the back.
nouncountableAmerican
The main house on a large piece of private land, often the residence of the owner of the estate.
Grammar: Countable: 'the estate house'. This sense is common in American English and in historical contexts.
Patterns
- the estate house
- the main estate house
- visit the estate house
The estate house sits on a hill overlooking the vineyards.
Visitors can tour the estate house and its gardens.
The family gathered at the estate house for the holidays.
Word forms
| plural | estate houses |
|---|
Common combinations
- a row of estate houses
- A row of estate houses lined the quiet street.
- the old estate house
- The old estate house has been turned into a museum.
- move into an estate house
- They were delighted to move into a brand-new estate house.
- estate house garden
- The estate house garden is open to the public in summer.
Synonyms and how they differ
- council house
- In British English, a council house is specifically rented from the local government; an estate house is any house on an estate, whether rented or owned.
- manor house
- A manor house is the historic main house of a large estate; 'estate house' in the American sense is similar but less formal.
Word family
- estate noun
- A large area of land, or a group of houses built together.
- housing estate noun
- A planned group of houses, especially in British English.
Commonly confused: estate house or state house?
estate house vs state house
A state house is a government building, especially in the US; an estate house is a home on a private or public estate.
Practice
In British English, what does 'estate house' usually mean?
Choose one answer.
In British English, 'estate house' most commonly means a house on a housing estate. Option B is too specific (council house), C is a manor house, and D is not the usual meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “estate house”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.