mobile house

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A house that is built so it can be moved from one place to another, often on wheels or on a truck.

   Grammar: Countable: say 'a mobile house' or 'two mobile houses'.

   Patterns

   • a mobile house on wheels
   • live in a mobile house
   • move a mobile house

   They bought a mobile house and parked it near the lake.

   A mobile house can be moved to a new site if you get permission.

   The family lived in a mobile house while their new home was being built.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A small factory-made home that is transported in one piece and set on a permanent site.

   Grammar: Countable and often used in housing or planning contexts.

   Patterns

   • a mobile house park
   • a mobile house community

   The council approved a new mobile house park on the edge of town.

   Mobile houses are cheaper than traditional brick homes.

Word forms

Common combinations

a mobile house on wheels

They towed a mobile house on wheels behind a large truck.

live in a mobile house

Many workers live in a mobile house near the construction site.

a mobile house park

The mobile house park has space for thirty homes.

move a mobile house

It takes special equipment to move a mobile house safely.

Synonyms and how they differ

mobile home

This is the usual everyday term for a movable home; 'mobile house' sounds more literal and is less common.

caravan

In British English a caravan is a vehicle you can live in and tow; a mobile house is usually larger and more permanent.

prefab

A prefab is a house made in a factory and assembled on site; it may not be movable after it is placed.

Word family

mobile adjective

Able to move or be moved easily.

mobility noun

The ability to move or be moved.

Commonly confused: mobile house or mobile home? mobile house or houseboat?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “mobile house”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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