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Construction and architecture vocabulary words

This list helps students, hobbyists, and woodworking or carpentry beginners learn the language used on a job site and in architecture. Use it to label a diagram of a house frame, prepare for a shop class, or make sense of terms in a home renovation show.

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Construction and architecture vocabulary words

32 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
blueprintnounA detailed technical drawing of a building or machine, or more broadly, a plan for how to achieve something.The architect spread the blueprints across the table to explain the new design.
foundationnounThe solid base on which a structure is built, or the basic principles on which something is established.Workers poured concrete for the foundation before building the walls.
framingnounThe way a situation, question, or piece of information is presented so as to shape how it is understood.The reporter's framing of the story made the mayor look more responsible than he was.
joistnounA long horizontal beam of wood or metal that supports a floor, ceiling, or roof.The contractor checked each joist for rot before laying the new floorboards.
rafternounOne of a series of sloped wooden or metal beams that support the framework of a roof.The carpenters nailed each rafter into place before adding the plywood roof deck.
beamnounA long, sturdy piece of wood, metal, or concrete used to support a structure such as a roof or floor.Workers lifted a heavy steel beam into place across the top of the building.
girdernounA large, strong beam, usually of steel, used as a main support in building or bridge construction.Workers welded the steel girder into place high above the river.
scaffoldingnounA temporary structure of poles and platforms used to support workers and materials during construction or repair.Workers climbed the scaffolding to repaint the top floor of the building.
mortarnounA mixture of cement, sand, and water used to bind bricks or stones together in construction.The mason spread fresh mortar between each row of bricks.
concreteadjectiveExisting in a specific, real, or definite form; based on facts rather than ideas or guesses.The lawyer needed concrete evidence before she could take the case to trial.
rebarnounA steel bar or mesh embedded in concrete to strengthen and reinforce it.Workers laid a grid of rebar before pouring the concrete for the new foundation.
drywallnounA building material made of a gypsum sheet used to construct interior walls and ceilings.The contractors hung fresh drywall over the exposed wooden frame in a single afternoon.
insulationnounMaterial used to prevent heat, sound, or electricity from passing through, or the process of adding such material.Thick insulation in the attic keeps the house warm during winter.
plumb linenounA cord with a weight attached to one end, used to determine a true vertical line.The mason used a plumb line to check that the brick wall stood perfectly vertical.
levelnounA particular height, position, or degree on a scale of amount, importance, or difficulty.Water rose to a dangerous level after three days of heavy rain.
trussnounA rigid framework, typically of triangular sections, used to support a roof, bridge, or other structure.Steel trusses span the width of the stadium roof without any interior supports.
cornicenounA decorative horizontal molding that projects along the top of a wall or building.Intricate carvings decorated the stone cornice running along the museum's grand facade.
facadenounThe front exterior of a building, or a false, misleading appearance someone presents to others.Workers spent months restoring the crumbling facade of the old theater.
turretnounA small tower that projects from a larger building or castle wall, often at a corner.The castle's stone turret offered guards a wide view of the surrounding countryside.
gablenounThe triangular section of a wall at the end of a ridged roof, formed by the roof's sloping sides.The old farmhouse had a steep gable facing the road, decorated with carved wooden trim.
dormernounA structure that projects from a sloped roof, containing a window and its own small roof.Light poured into the attic through the newly built dormer facing the garden.
verandanounA roofed, open-sided platform attached to the outside of a house, often used for sitting outdoors.They sipped iced tea on the veranda while watching the sun set over the fields.
masonrynounStone or brick construction, or the skilled trade of building with such materials.Cracks appeared in the old masonry after decades of harsh winters.
mortisenounA rectangular hole cut into a piece of wood or other material designed to receive a matching projecting piece, called a tenon.The carpenter chiseled a mortise into the leg to hold the tabletop's tenon.
tenonnounA projecting piece cut on the end of a piece of wood, shaped to fit into a matching mortise.The carpenter cut a tenon on the chair leg to fit snugly into the mortise in the seat.
dovetailnounA wedge-shaped joint formed by interlocking pieces, used especially to join two pieces of wood securely.The carpenter cut each dovetail by hand so the drawer would hold together without nails.
chiselnounA hand tool with a sharp flat edge, used to cut or shape wood, stone, or metal.The sculptor used a small chisel to carve delicate details into the marble block.
sawhorsenounA frame with four legs used to support wood or other material while it is being cut or worked on.He rested the plank across two sawhorses before cutting it in half.
contractornounA person or company hired to carry out work, especially building or construction, under a formal agreement.We hired a contractor to renovate the kitchen and add a new bathroom.
renovationnounThe process of repairing and improving something, especially an old building, to restore it to good condition.The renovation of the old theater took over a year and cost millions.
demolitionnounThe act of deliberately destroying or tearing down a building or structure.The demolition of the stadium took only a few seconds with controlled explosives.
excavationnounThe act of digging into the ground to uncover something, especially in archaeology or construction.The excavation uncovered pottery fragments dating back more than two thousand years.

Construction tools vocabulary

A few hand tools come up constantly in carpentry and general construction. A chisel cuts or shapes wood, while a sawhorse supports a board while it is cut. A plumb-line checks that a wall or post is perfectly vertical, and a level checks that a surface is even. Joints like a mortise and tenon or a dovetail hold wood pieces together without extra hardware.

Victorian architecture terms

Victorian-era homes are known for decorative details. A turret is a small tower rising above a roofline, and a gable is the triangular wall section under a sloped roof's peak. A dormer is a small structure with its own roof that projects from a sloped roof, a veranda is a covered porch along the outside of a house, and a cornice is the decorative molding along the top of a wall or roofline.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a joist and a rafter?

A joist is a horizontal beam that supports a floor or ceiling, while a rafter is a sloped beam that supports a roof.