B2 2K

Homeless

UK /["/ˈhəʊmləs/"]/ US /["/ˈhəʊmləs/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

having no home, and therefore typically living on the streets

Listen to definition

In simple words: People who do not have a home.

Examples

• The scheme has been set up to help homeless people.
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused.
• Three hundred people were left homeless by the earthquake.
• helping the homeless

Usage notes

Use 'homeless' to describe someone without a permanent place to live. Be sensitive when discussing this issue, as it can be a difficult topic. Avoid using it in informal or derogatory contexts.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'home less' — imagine someone who has less than a home.

Collocations

• be
• become
• end up
• intentionally
• unintentionally
• chronically

Synonyms

• unhoused
• displaced
• roofless
• vagrant

Antonyms

• housed
• domiciled

Common mistakes

• 'Homeless' is sometimes incorrectly used as a noun instead of an adjective.
• Confusing 'homeless' with related terms like 'houseless'.
• Assuming all homeless people choose to be without homes.