What does "doghouse" mean?
Any small house or structure or enclosure used to house a dog.
Doghouse
noun, slang
noun, slang ·2 syllables ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any small house or structure or enclosure used to house a dog.
- Grammar: doghouse is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: kennel, dog house, cubbyhole, disfavor.
- Useful contrasts: approval, favor, good standing.
- Usage evidence: This is a doghouse of my own making.
How to use "doghouse"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "doghouse" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "doghouse" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "doghouse" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "doghouse" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "doghouse" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "kennel" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "doghouse", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any small house or structure or enclosure used to house a dog.
""But, honey, whar yo' ole man gwine ter sleep?" "Dey's straw in de barn, en pine shatters in de doghouse!" she shouted, slamming the window."
- 2 outbuilding that serves as a shelter for a dog wordnet
- 3 A structure of small size, similar to a doghouse, but offering useful shelter for a human.
"This berth of mine was commonly called a doghouse (a box about six feet long, four high, and two broad,) containing a mattress fitted about 18 inches from the deck."
- 4 an idiomatic term for being in disfavor wordnet
- 5 Mechanically, an equipment cover with an opening, with a shape resembling a doghouse.
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A difficult or demoralizing situation.
"During the slave trade, slaves were packed into every available niche aboard the slave ships, including the officers' cabins. The officers slept on deck in semi-cylindrical boxes, nicknamed "dog houses." The term "in the dog house" grew to describe being in a difficult situation due to the extreme discomfort of sleeping in these boxes."
- 7 A traffic signal with five sections: two on the bottom, two in the middle, and one on top.
- 8 Any shabby or disreputable establishment. informal
"He didn't even know where he was taking her. He had assumed she would suggest a place she wanted to eat, the movie she wanted to see. Now he suspected she was waiting for him to make the decision. Unfortunately, he hardly knew the area. He didn't want to risk taking her to the local doghouse."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"This is a doghouse of my own making."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "doghouse"?
Common synonyms include: kennel, dog house, cubbyhole, disfavor, dog shelter, dollhouse.
How do you use "doghouse" in a sentence?
This is a doghouse of my own making.
Etymology
Compound of dog + house.