Meaning & use
rough sleeper
Last updated
UK/ˌrʌf ˈsliːpə/
US/ˌrʌf ˈsliːpər/
Meaning
nouncountableBritish
A person who sleeps outdoors, often in public places, because they have no home.
Grammar: Countable noun: a rough sleeper, two rough sleepers.
Patterns
- a rough sleeper
- rough sleepers
The city has a growing number of rough sleepers.
He became a rough sleeper after losing his job.
Charities provide food and blankets for rough sleepers.
Word forms
| plural | rough sleepers |
|---|
Common combinations
- number of rough sleepers
- The number of rough sleepers increased last winter.
- help rough sleepers
- Volunteers help rough sleepers find shelter.
- rough sleeper count
- The annual rough sleeper count takes place in November.
Synonyms and how they differ
- homeless person
- A general term for anyone without a home; 'rough sleeper' specifically means someone who sleeps outside.
Word family
- rough sleeping noun
- The activity or situation of sleeping outdoors because of having no home.
Practice
What does 'rough sleeper' mean?
Choose one answer.
'Rough sleeper' specifically refers to someone who sleeps outside, often on the streets, due to homelessness. The other options describe different sleeping situations.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rough sleeper”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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