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Definition of doghouse

doghouse

/ˈdɔːɡ.haʊs/
dog · house
Plural:doghouses
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doghouse Lexical Profile

doghouse Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A state of disgrace, trouble, or disfavor, especially resulting from a mistake or offense.

Example

"He completely forgot their anniversary and knew he would be in the doghouse for the rest of the week."

2

A small shelter built for a dog, typically resembling a miniature house with a pitched roof.

Example

"During the thunderstorm, the frightened spaniel refused to leave the safety of its doghouse."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for doghouse
Antonyms
View all antonyms for doghouse

Word Nuance & Usage

While primarily a concrete noun for an animal shelter, it is highly frequent in the idiom 'in the doghouse,' which describes a person (often a romantic partner) who is temporarily in disgrace or disfavor.

• Nearby Words

doggo
doggone
doggy
doghouse
dogleg
doglike
dogma

Word Origin & Etymology

A compound of 'dog' and 'house', dating back to the early 1600s. The figurative phrase 'in the doghouse' originated in early 20th-century American English.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Doghouse. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/doghouse
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