Hovel

/ˈhɒv.əl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A small, simple, and often poorly constructed dwelling.

After the storm, they found themselves living in a hovel, barely protecting them from the elements.

A miserable or disheveled place.

The abandoned hovel at the edge of the village was once a lively home filled with laughter.

A shelter that offers minimal comfort or amenities.

He refused to spend another night in that dingy hovel, opting instead to camp under the stars.

Middle English 'hovel', probably from Old English 'hūfel', diminutive of 'hū' (house).

hovel of a house

A very poor or unpleasant house.

live in a hovel

To live in very poor or inadequate living conditions.

make a hovel

To convert a space into a very simple or poorly constructed dwelling.

shanty

A crudely built shelter.

hut

A small, simple building or shelter.

dirt

Soil or earth that is often associated with poor living conditions.

A rundown apartment or house.

After college, all I could afford was a hovel in the slums.

A place that is not well-kept.

That place is a hovel; they never clean up.