plural apartments
Synonyms of apartmentnext
1
: a room or set of rooms fitted especially with housekeeping facilities and usually leased as a dwelling
2
: a building containing several individual apartments
3
British : a large and impressive room or set of rooms
—usually plural
Assured that the Queen and Prince Philip had retired to bed, Mr Hillyard tried to pass through the Royal apartments as the train left Aberdeen on its journey to London.—Jonathan Petre

Examples of apartment in a Sentence

We lived in an apartment for several years before buying a house. a spacious six-room apartment that occupies the entire upper floor of a two-family house
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Apantenco was already at work when the woman — wearing long white gloves and dark glasses — came to pick up Melissa from the apartment. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026 In Miami-Dade, apartment renters could find themselves on the hook for an extra $291 per year to pay off their landlords’ higher property tax bills. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026 Her body was found on the third floor, outside the apartment of her grandmother, who was looking after her that day. — CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Once-barren lots have been excavated to lay foundations for apartments, roadways and restaurants. — Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apartment

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French appartement, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Italian appartamento, borrowed from Spanish apartamiento "withdrawal, remote spot, residence," from apartar "to separate, take aside" (reflexive, "to withdraw") (derivative of aparte "aside, apart entry 1") + -miento -ment

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of apartment was circa 1645

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Cite this Entry

“Apartment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apartment. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: a room or set of rooms used as a dwelling
2
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