flophouse

American  

[flop-hous] / ˈflɒpˌhaʊs /

noun

plural

flophouses

1. a cheap, run-down hotel or rooming house.

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flophouse British  

/ ˈflɒpˌhaʊs /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): dosshouse.  slang a cheap lodging house, esp one used by tramps

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Etymology

Origin of flophouse

First recorded in 1890–95; flop + house

Example Sentences

The setting of McPherson’s play is a flophouse in Depression-era Duluth, Minn., the port city where Dylan was born in 1941.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2024

For almost every character, the film is one hardship after another: late buses, empty wallets, a basement flophouse, capricious bullies.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 8, 2023

Part of the scheme involved an alleged plan to remove permit violations in the flophouse owned by Mr. Pelosi.

From Washington Times • Feb. 1, 2022

Sure, your mom might think your bedroom looks like a flophouse, but how many people are in your bedroom regularly?

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2020

Perhaps because he was nervous, or perhaps because he kept moving from one flophouse to another, he couldn’t remember his address.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady