Haunted House Meaning, Examples & Usage

Meaning 1：haunted house (Haunted House)

Haunted House 🔊

/ˈhɔːntɪd haʊs/

A house that people believe is visited by ghosts, often used in scary stories or as a fun attraction.

haunted house 🔊

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/ˈhɔːntɪd haʊs/

A house believed to be visited by ghosts or spirits, often used as a setting in scary stories or as a fun, spooky attraction during Halloween.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

'Haunt' from Old French 'hanter' (to frequent) + 'house' from Old English 'hus'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a house where ghosts 'haunt' (sounds like 'hunt') for visitors, making it a 'haunted house'.

📖 Example

Every October, the community center turns into a haunted house for family-friendly Halloween fun. 🔊 Every October, the community center turns into a haunted house for family-friendly Halloween fun.

🔗 Collocations

visit a haunted house – go to see a house with ghostly decorations and actors

haunted house attraction – a seasonal event where people walk through a spooky house

walk through a haunted house – pass through a haunted house as an amusement activity

🔄 Synonyms

ghost house (n) – a house where ghosts are said to appear

spook house (n) – an informal term for a haunted house, especially at fairs

horror house (n) – a house designed to frighten visitors, similar to a haunted house

🌱 Derivatives

haunt (v) – to visit as a ghost or spirit

haunting (adj) – evoking a sense of sadness or mystery; memorable

haunter (n) – a ghost or spirit that haunts a place

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'haunt' originates from Old French 'hanter' meaning 'to frequent,' originally referring to a place often visited. By the 16th century, it shifted to ghostly visitations. 'House' is from Old English 'hus.' The concept became a popular Halloween attraction in early 20th-century America.