Ask Difference

House vs. Home — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 3, 2023
House is a physical structure for dwelling. Home is an emotional or habitual residence, which can be a house or any dwelling place.
House vs. Home — What's the Difference?

Difference Between House and Home

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Key Differences

The concepts of a House and a Home encapsulate both physical and emotional dimensions respectively. A House represents a physical structure that provides shelter and may be occupied by individuals or families. In contrast, a Home, while it can be a house, emphasizes the emotional and psychological connections the occupants have to the dwelling place.
Delineating a House is often more straightforward, referring to a tangible structure with specific architectural and physical attributes. Whereas, a Home encompasses the intangible, often laced with feelings of comfort, safety, and belonging, which might not be confined to a particular physical space.
When discussing a House, focus may be placed on its structural attributes, such as its size, design, and the materials used in its construction. A Home, conversely, may be reflected upon with regard to the memories, practices, and experiences shared within a living space, which may or may not be a house.
Buying a House is generally a transactional process involving financial exchange and legal documentation. Transforming a House into a Home, however, involves an emotional investment, whereby individuals create a space that reflects their identity, values, and personal touches.
People may move from one House to another, dealing with mere physical relocations. Moving a Home, conversely, signifies a transition of emotional and habitual bearings, often reflecting changes in life stages, experiences, and personal development.
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Comparison Chart

Physicality

Tangible structure with physical attributes
Can be intangible and not tied to structure

Emotional Connection

Not inherently tied to emotional aspects
Essentially tied to feelings and emotions

Elements Discussed

Architecture, size, design
Memories, feelings, experiences

Transfer/Transaction

Can be bought or sold
Cannot be bought or sold

Universality

A universal, concrete concept
Can be a varied, personalized concept

Compare with Definitions

House

A House is a physical structure designed for habitation.
The House stood tall and majestic on the hill.

Home

A Home refers to a place where one lives, especially as a member of a family or household.
After a long trip, it feels great to be Home.

House

A House may refer to a legislative body in certain contexts.
The bill was passed in the House of Representatives.

Home

Home symbolizes the place where one was born or raised.
She returns to her Home in the countryside every summer.

House

A house is a single-unit residential building, which may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Houses use a range of different roofing systems to keep precipitation such as rain from getting into the dwelling space.

Home

Home can imply a place of origin for something.
The coffee shop is the Home of the best espresso.

House

A building for human habitation, especially one that consists of a ground floor and one or more upper storeys
House prices
A house of Cotswold stone

Home

A Home represents a place where something is discovered, founded, developed, or promoted.
The city is often cited as the Home of jazz.

House

A building in which people meet for a particular activity
A house of prayer

Home

Home can refer to a comfortable or congenial environment.
The library, with its cozy corners, was her second Home.

House

A religious community that occupies a particular building
The Cistercian house at Clairvaux

Home

A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for an individual, group or family. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it.

House

A legislative or deliberative assembly
The sixty-member National Council, the country's upper house

Home

The place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household
The floods forced many people to flee their homes
I was nineteen when I left home and went to college

House

A style of electronic dance music typically having sparse, repetitive vocals and a fast beat
DJs specializing in techno, garage, and house

Home

An institution for people needing professional care or supervision
An old people's home

House

A twelfth division of the celestial sphere, based on the positions of the ascendant and midheaven at a given time and place, and determined by any of a number of methods.

Home

The finishing point in a race
He was four fences from home

House

Old-fashioned term for bingo

Home

Relating to the place where one lives
I don't have your home address

House

(of an animal or plant) kept in, frequenting, or infesting buildings.

Home

(of a sports fixture) played at the team's own ground
A home win
Their first home match of the season

House

Relating to a firm, institution, or society
A house journal

Home

Denoting the administrative centre of an organization
The company has moved its home office

House

Provide with shelter or accommodation
They converted a disused cinema to house twelve employees

Home

To or at the place where one lives
What time did he get home last night?

House

Provide space for; contain or accommodate
The museum houses a collection of Roman sculpture

Home

(of an animal) return by instinct to its territory after leaving it
A dozen geese homing to their summer nesting grounds

House

A structure serving as a dwelling for one or more persons, especially for a family.

Home

Move or be aimed towards (a target or destination) with great accuracy
More than 100 missiles were launched, homing in on radar emissions

House

A household or family.

Home

Provide (an animal) with a home as a pet
Each year thousands of cats which could have been homed are being needlessly put down

House

Something, such as a burrow or shell, that serves as a shelter or habitation for a wild animal.

Home

A place where one lives; a residence.

House

A dwelling for a group of people, such as students or members of a religious community, who live together as a unit
A sorority house.

Home

The physical structure within which one lives, such as a house or apartment.

House

A building that functions as the primary shelter or location of something
A carriage house.
The lion house at the zoo.

Home

A dwelling place together with the family or social unit that occupies it; a household.

House

A building devoted to a particular activity
A customs house.
A house of worship.

Home

An environment offering security and happiness.

House

A facility, such as a theater or restaurant, that provides entertainment or food for the public
A movie house.
The specialty of the house.

Home

A valued place regarded as a refuge or place of origin.

House

The seating area in such an establishment
Dimmed the lights in the house to signal the start of the show.

Home

The place, such as a country or town, where one was born or has lived for a long period.

House

The audience or patrons of such an establishment
A full house.

Home

The native habitat, as of a plant or animal.

House

A commercial firm
A brokerage house.

Home

The place where something is discovered, founded, developed, or promoted; a source.

House

A publishing company
A house that specializes in cookbooks.

Home

A headquarters; a home base.

House

A gambling casino.

Home

(Baseball) Home plate.

House

(Slang) A house of prostitution.

Home

(Games) Home base.

House

A residential college within a university.

Home

An institution where people are cared for
A home for the elderly.

House

Often House A legislative or deliberative assembly.

Home

The starting position of the cursor on a text-based computer display, usually in the upper left corner of the screen.

House

The hall or chamber in which such an assembly meets.

Home

A starting position within a computer application, such as the beginning of a line, file, or screen or the top of a chart or list.

House

A quorum of such an assembly.

Home

Of or relating to a home, especially to one's household or house
Home cooking.
Home furnishings.

House

Often House A family line including ancestors and descendants, especially a royal or noble family
The House of Orange.

Home

Taking place in the home
Home care for the elderly.

House

One of the 12 parts into which the heavens are divided in astrology.

Home

Of, relating to, or being a place of origin or headquarters
The home office.

House

The sign of the zodiac indicating the seat or station of a planet in the heavens. Also called mansion.

Home

(Sports) Relating to a team's sponsoring institution or to the place where it is franchised
A home game.
The home field advantage.

House

House music.

Home

Of, relating to, or being the keys used as base positions for the fingers in touch-typing
The home row on a standard keyboard consists of the keys for A, S, D, F, J, K, L,.
, and '.

House

To provide living quarters for; lodge
The cottage housed ten students.

Home

At, to, or toward the direction of home
Going home for lunch.

House

To shelter, keep, or store in a house or other structure
A library housing rare books.

Home

On or into the point at which something is directed
The arrow struck home.

House

To fit (something) into a socket or mortise.

Home

To the center or heart of something; deeply
Your comments really hit home.

House

(Nautical) To secure or stow safely.

Home

To go or return to one's residence or base of operations.

House

To reside; dwell.

Home

To guide (a missile or aircraft) to a target.

House

To take shelter.

Home

To arrange to have (an animal) placed in a home.

House

A structure built or serving as an abode of human beings.
This is my house and my family's ancestral home.

Home

To take (an animal) into one's home.

House

An apartment building within a public housing estate.

Home

A dwelling.

House

(uncountable) Size and quality of residential accommodations.

Home

One’s own dwelling place; the house or structure in which one lives; especially the house in which one lives with one's family; the habitual abode of one’s family.

House

A building intended to contain a single household, as opposed to an apartment or condominium or building containing these.

Home

The place (residence, settlement, country, etc.), where a person was born and/or raised; childhood or parental home; home of one’s parents or guardian.
Does she still live at home? - No, she moved out and got an apartment when she was 18, but she still lives in the city.

House

The people who live in a house; a household.

Home

The abiding place of the affections, especially of the domestic affections.

House

A building used for something other than a residence (typically with qualifying word).
The former carriage house had been made over into a guest house.
On arriving at the zoo, we immediately headed for the monkey house.

Home

A house that has been made home-like, to suit the comfort of those who live there.
It's what you bring into a house that makes it a home

House

A place of business; a company or organisation, especially a printing press, a publishing company, or a couturier.
A small publishing house would have a contract with an independent fulfillment house.

Home

A place of refuge, rest or care; an asylum.
A home for outcasts
A home for the blind
A veterans' home
Instead of a pet store, get your new dog from the local dogs’ home.

House

A place of public accommodation or entertainment, especially a public house, an inn, a restaurant, a theatre, or a casino; or the management thereof.
One more, sir, then I'll have to stop serving you – rules of the house, I'm afraid.
The house always wins.

Home

(by extension) The grave; the final rest; also, the native and eternal dwelling place of the soul.

House

(historical) A workhouse.

Home

One’s native land; the place or country in which one dwells; the place where one’s ancestors dwell or dwelt.

House

The audience for a live theatrical or similar performance.

Home

The locality where a thing is usually found, or was first found, or where it is naturally abundant; habitat; seat.
The home of the pine

House

A theatre.
After her swan-song, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Home

A focus point.

House

(politics) A building where a deliberative assembly meets; whence the assembly itself, particularly a component of a legislature.
The petition was so ridiculous that the house rejected it after minimal debate.

Home

(board games) The ultimate point aimed at in a progress; the goal.
The object of Sorry! is to get all four of your pawns to your home.

House

A dynasty; a family with its ancestors and descendants, especially a royal or noble one.
A curse lay upon the House of Atreus.

Home

(baseball) Home plate.

House

(metaphorical) A place of rest or repose.

Home

(lacrosse) The place of a player in front of an opponent’s goal; also, the player.

House

A grouping of schoolchildren for the purposes of competition in sports and other activities.
I was a member of Spenser house when I was at school.

Home

(Internet) The landing page of a website; the site's homepage.

House

An animal's shelter or den, or the shell of an animal such as a snail, used for protection.

Home

The chord at which a melody starts and to which it can resolve.

House

(astrology) One of the twelve divisions of an astrological chart.

Home

Clipping of home directory

House

(cartomancy) The fourth Lenormand card.

Home

To return to its owner.
The dog homed.

House

A square on a chessboard, regarded as the proper place of a piece.

Home

To seek or aim for something.
The missile was able to home in on the target.

House

(curling) The four concentric circles where points are scored on the ice.

Home

Of, from, or pertaining to one’s dwelling or country; domestic; not foreign

House

Lotto; bingo.

Home

That strikes home; direct, pointed.
A home truth

House

(uncountable) A children's game in which the players pretend to be members of a household.
As the babysitter, Emma always acted as the mother whenever the kids demanded to play house.

Home

(obsolete) Personal, intimate.

House

A small stand of trees in a swamp.

Home

(sports) Relating to the home team (the team at whose venue a game is played).
The home end, home advantage, home supporters

House

(sudoku) A set of cells in a Sudoku puzzle which must contain each digit exactly once, such as a row, column, or 3×3 box in classic Sudoku.

Home

To one's home

House

(music genre) House music.

Home

To one's place of residence or one's customary or official location
Go home
Come home
Carry someone home

House

(transitive) To keep within a structure or container.
The car is housed in the garage.

Home

To one's place of birth

House

(transitive) To admit to residence; to harbor.

Home

To the place where it belongs; to the end of a course; to the full length
She drove the nail home
Ram a cartridge home

House

To take shelter or lodging; to abide; to lodge.

Home

(internet) To the home page
Click here to go home.

House

To dwell within one of the twelve astrological houses.

Home

At or in one's place of residence or one's customary or official location; at home
Everyone's gone to watch the game; there's nobody home.
I'm home!

House

(transitive) To contain or cover mechanical parts.

Home

To a full and intimate degree; to the heart of the matter; fully, directly.

House

(transitive) To contain one part of an object for the purpose of locating the whole.
The joists were housed into the side walls, rather than being hung from them.

Home

Into the goal

House

(obsolete) To drive to a shelter.

Home

(nautical) into the right, proper or stowed position
Sails sheeted home

House

(obsolete) To deposit and cover, as in the grave.

Home

See Homelyn.

House

(nautical) To stow in a safe place; to take down and make safe.
To house the upper spars

Home

One's own dwelling place; the house in which one lives; esp., the house in which one lives with his family; the habitual abode of one's family; also, one's birthplace.
The disciples went away again to their own home.
Home is the sacred refuge of our life.
Home! home! sweet, sweet home!There's no place like home.

House

To eat.

Home

One's native land; the place or country in which one dwells; the place where one's ancestors dwell or dwelt.

House

A structure intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but especially, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, a mansion.
Houses are built to live in; not to look on.
Bees with smoke and doves with noisome stenchAre from their hives and houses driven away.

Home

The abiding place of the affections, especially of the domestic affections.
He entered in his house - his home no more,For without hearts there is no home.

House

Household affairs; domestic concerns; particularly in the phrase to keep house. See below.

Home

The locality where a thing is usually found, or was first found, or where it is naturally abundant; habitat; seat; as, the home of the pine.
Her eyes are homes of silent prayer.
Flandria, by plenty made the home of war.

House

Those who dwell in the same house; a household.
One that feared God with all his house.

Home

A place of refuge and rest; an asylum; as, a home for outcasts; a home for the blind; hence, esp., the grave; the final rest; also, the native and eternal dwelling place of the soul.
Man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.

House

A family of ancestors, descendants, and kindred; a race of persons from the same stock; a tribe; especially, a noble family or an illustrious race; as, the house of Austria; the house of Hanover; the house of Israel.
The last remaining pillar of their house,The one transmitter of their ancient name.

Home

The home base; as, he started for home.

House

One of the estates of a kingdom or other government assembled in parliament or legislature; a body of men united in a legislative capacity; as, the House of Lords; the House of Commons; the House of Representatives; also, a quorum of such a body. See Congress, and Parliament.

Home

Of or pertaining to one's dwelling or country; domestic; not foreign; as home manufactures; home comforts.

House

A firm, or commercial establishment.

Home

Close; personal; pointed; as, a home thrust.

House

A public house; an inn; a hotel.

Home

In various games, the ultimate point aimed at in a progress; goal

House

A twelfth part of the heavens, as divided by six circles intersecting at the north and south points of the horizon, used by astrologers in noting the positions of the heavenly bodies, and casting horoscopes or nativities. The houses were regarded as fixed in respect to the horizon, and numbered from the one at the eastern horizon, called the ascendant, first house, or house of life, downward, or in the direction of the earth's revolution, the stars and planets passing through them in the reverse order every twenty-four hours.

Home

To one's home or country; as in the phrases, go home, come home, carry home.

House

A square on a chessboard, regarded as the proper place of a piece.

Home

Close; closely.
How home the charge reaches us, has been made out.
They come home to men's business and bosoms.

House

An audience; an assembly of hearers, as at a lecture, a theater, etc.; as, a thin or a full house.

Home

To the place where it belongs; to the end of a course; to the full length; as, to drive a nail home; to ram a cartridge home.
Wear thy good rapier bare and put it home.

House

The body, as the habitation of the soul.
This mortal house I'll ruin,Do Cæsar what he can.

Home

To return home.

House

The grave.

Home

To proceed toward an object or location intended as a target; - of missiles which can change course in flight under internal or external control; usually used with in on; as, the missile homed in on the radar site.

House

To take or put into a house; to shelter under a roof; to cover from the inclemencies of the weather; to protect by covering; as, to house one's family in a comfortable home; to house farming utensils; to house cattle.
At length have housed me in a humble shed.
House your choicest carnations, or rather set them under a penthouse.

Home

To arrive at or get closer to an object sought or an intended goal; used with in on; as, the repairman quickly homed in on the cause of the malfunction.

House

To drive to a shelter.

Home

Where you live at a particular time;
Deliver the package to my home
He doesn't have a home to go to
Your place or mine?

House

To admit to residence; to harbor.
Palladius wished him to house all the Helots.

Home

Housing that someone is living in;
He built a modest dwelling near the pond
They raise money to provide homes for the homeless

House

To deposit and cover, as in the grave.

Home

The country or state or city where you live;
Canadian tariffs enabled United States lumber companies to raise prices at home
His home is New Jersey

House

To stow in a safe place; to take down and make safe; as, to house the upper spars.

Home

An environment offering affection and security;
Home is where the heart is
He grew up in a good Christian home
There's no place like home

House

To take shelter or lodging; to abide to dwell; to lodge.
You shall not house with me.

Home

An institution where people are cared for;
A home for the elderly

House

A dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families;
He has a house on Cape Cod
She felt she had to get out of the house

Home

The place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end

House

An official assembly having legislative powers;
The legislature has two houses

Home

A social unit living together;
He moved his family to Virginia
It was a good Christian household
I waited until the whole house was asleep
The teacher asked how many people made up his home

House

A building in which something is sheltered or located;
They had a large carriage house

Home

(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score;
He ruled that the runner failed to touch home

House

A social unit living together;
He moved his family to Virginia
It was a good Christian household
I waited until the whole house was asleep
The teacher asked how many people made up his home

Home

Place where something began and flourished;
The United States is the home of basketball

House

A building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented;
The house was full

Home

Provide with, or send to, a home

House

Members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments;
He worked for a brokerage house

Home

Return home accurately from a long distance;
Homing pigeons

House

Aristocratic family line;
The House of York

Home

Used of your own ground;
A home game

House

The members of a religious community living together

Home

Relating to or being where one lives or where one's roots are;
My home town

House

The audience gathered together in a theatre or cinema;
The house applauded
He counted the house

Home

Inside the country;
The British Home Office has broader responsibilities than the United States Department of the Interior
The nation's internal politics

House

Play in which children take the roles of father or mother or children and pretend to interact like adults;
The children were playing house

Home

At or to or in the direction of one's home or family;
He stays home on weekends
After the game the children brought friends home for supper
I'll be home tomorrow
Came riding home in style
I hope you will come home for Christmas
I'll take her home
Don't forget to write home

House

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

Home

On or to the point aimed at;
The arrow struck home

House

The management of a gambling house or casino;
The house gets a percentage of every bet

Home

To the fullest extent; to the heart;
Drove the nail home
Drove his point home
His comments hit home

House

Contain or cover;
This box houses the gears

House

Provide housing for;
The immigrants were housed in a new development outside the town

House

A House can denote a building that holds certain activities or businesses.
The opera House was filled with eager spectators.

House

A House can symbolize a familial lineage or dynasty.
The House of Windsor is well-known.

House

A House may also refer to a place providing specific services.
The pancake House was popular among locals.

Common Curiosities

How is Home defined?

A Home refers to a place marked by affection, memories, and belonging.

What is a House?

A House is a tangible structure intended for habitation or usage.

Can a Home be a House?

Yes, when a House is infused with emotional and relational significance, it becomes a Home.

Is a House only a residential structure?

Primarily yes, but metaphorically, it can refer to other structures like a parliament House or a House of worship.

What elements are often associated with a Home?

Elements like comfort, safety, memories, and belonging are associated with a Home.

Can a rented place be considered a Home?

Yes, any place, owned or rented, can be considered a Home if it holds emotional value.

Does a Home always have to be a House?

No, a Home can be any place that holds emotional significance and comfort, not necessarily a House.

What attributes define a House?

Physical characteristics like size, structure, and design typically define a House.

Can a House become a Home?

Yes, when emotional, memorable, and personalized aspects are infused into a House, it becomes a Home.

Can a House accommodate businesses?

Yes, Houses can be modified or designed to accommodate businesses, like guesthouses or home offices.

Can the term Home refer to a hometown or country?

Yes, people often refer to their town, city, or country as Home due to emotional and relational attachments.

Can the feeling of Home be replicated in multiple places?

Absolutely, individuals can associate the feelings tied to Home in multiple places.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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