roommate

/ˈɹu(m)ˌmeɪt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: roommates

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A person with whom one shares a room, as in a dormitory, barracks, rooming house, or apartment.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A person sharing the same home albeit not the same room (but generally not a family member or spouse).

NounRegister: US

Examples

I live with Marsha. We’re roommates.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “roommate” mean?

A person with whom one shares a room, as in a dormitory, barracks, rooming house, or apartment.

Is “roommate” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.