roomer

[ roo-mer, room-er ]

noun

1. a person who lives in a rented room; lodger.

Word History and Origins

Origin of roomer¹

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; room + -er ¹

Example Sentences

"And if roomers built their own shelters – me and Joyce living in a kitchenette, for instance. . . . How would we keep the other roomers out in case of a raid?"

From Salon

When officials realized that low incomes would often cause a family to double up or take in roomers, it was easy to overlook the public health issue.

From Washington Post

“This frightened me, given how the situation is now,” said one Spanish-speaking respondent, when asked to explain why she did not report three of the four roomers living in her residence.

From Washington Post

A roomer down the hall began a patient, continuing cough against the quiet night.

From Literature

She told me she had only one other roomer, a quiet gentleman who worked nights and whom I should probably never see.

From Literature

Related Words

• caller
• client
• companion
• customer
• inmate
• patron
• recipient
• tenant
• vacationer
• visitor