Mansion: Definition, Usage, and Examples

Meaning 1：grand house (mansion)

mansion 🔊

/ˈmænʃ(ə)n/

A very big and often very beautiful house, usually where a rich or important person lives.

Mansion definition illustrated by a grand, luxurious house with green lawns

grand house 🔊

➕

/ɡrænd haʊs/

A very large, impressive, and usually luxurious house, typically associated with great wealth or high social status.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'mansio' (dwelling), from 'manēre' (to remain, dwell).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a massive 'man' living in a huge 'sion' (like a vision of a house). A mansion is a man's grand vision of a home.

📖 Example

When Emma visited her friend's family, she was amazed by the mansion they lived in, complete with a swimming pool and a private cinema. 🔊 When Emma visited her friend's family, she was amazed by the grand house they lived in, complete with a swimming pool and a private cinema.

🔗 Collocations

stately mansion – a mansion that is dignified, grand, and impressive in size and appearance

family mansion – a large house that has been owned by and passed down through a family for generations

luxury mansion – an extremely expensive and well-appointed mansion with high-end amenities

🔄 Synonyms

manor (n.) – A large country house with lands; historically the main house of a landed estate.

villa (n.) – A large and luxurious country house or a grand house in a suburban or resort setting.

palace (n.) – The official residence of a sovereign, archbishop, or bishop; a large, splendid house.

🚫 Antonyms

shack (n.) – A roughly built hut or cabin.

hut (n.) – A small, simple, single-story house or shelter.

cottage (n.) – A small house, typically one in the country.

🌱 Derivatives

mansions (n.) – Plural form of mansion.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'mansion' derives from Latin 'mansio', meaning a stopping place or dwelling. In medieval Europe, it referred to the main residence of a lord on his estate. In modern times, it's strongly associated with luxury real estate and opulent residences, often featured in popular culture as symbols of great wealth and success.