Dwelling vs. Home: What's the Difference?

By Harlon Moss & Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 29, 2024

A dwelling is any structure where people live, while a home is a place where someone feels comfortable and has personal significance.

Key Differences

A dwelling refers to any structure or place where people reside, such as houses, apartments, or shelters. It focuses on the physical aspect of living spaces, often used in technical or legal contexts. On the other hand, a home is more than just a physical structure; it encompasses emotional and personal connections. A home is where someone feels a sense of belonging and comfort, and it is often filled with personal belongings and memories.

Dwelling can be used in a broad and neutral sense, encompassing any place suitable for living, regardless of the emotional connection. For instance, an unoccupied rental unit is still considered a dwelling. The term is inclusive of various types of living spaces without considering the occupant's attachment. Conversely, home implies a deeper personal connection and often evokes feelings of warmth and security. People typically use the word "home" to describe a place that holds personal importance and provides a sense of identity and stability. It's common to hear someone refer to their hometown or childhood house as their home, regardless of where they currently reside.

In legal and formal language, dwelling is preferred due to its precise nature. Laws, regulations, and official documents often use this term to avoid ambiguity. In everyday conversation, people use home more frequently to convey personal and emotional aspects of their living space.

While both terms can describe a place where someone lives, dwelling focuses on the physical structure, whereas home emphasizes personal connection and comfort. A single building can be both a dwelling and a home, depending on the context and the relationship of the occupants to the space.

Comparison Chart

Definition

Any place where people live

A place with personal significance

Usage Context

Technical, legal

Emotional, personal

Emotional Connection

Not necessarily

Strongly implied

Common Examples

House, apartment, shelter

Childhood house, family residence

Language Preference

Formal, official

Everyday, conversational

Dwelling and Home Definitions

Dwelling

A place where people live.

The city ordinance regulates the construction of new dwellings.

Home

A space with personal significance.

Her childhood home was filled with memories.

Dwelling

A house, apartment, or other residence.

They moved into a new dwelling last month.

Home

A place providing emotional comfort.

He made the small apartment feel like home.

Dwelling

A building designed for living.

The dwelling was designed to accommodate large families.

Home

A place of origin or one's own country.

She always felt proud to call this town her home.

Dwelling

Any place of residence.

The cave served as a dwelling for ancient humans.

Home

A place where one lives; a residence.

Dwelling

A living quarters.

The RV was their temporary dwelling during the trip.

Home

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

Dwelling

A place to live in; an abode.

Home

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

Dwelling

A house or place in which a person lives; a habitation, a home.

The old house served as a dwelling for Albert.

Home

An environment offering security and happiness.

Dwelling

Present participle of dwell

Home

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

Dwelling

Habitation; place or house in which a person lives; abode; domicile.

Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons.

God will deignTo visit oft the dwellings of just men.

Philip's dwelling fronted on the street.

Home

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

Dwelling

Housing that someone is living in;

He built a modest dwelling near the pond

They raise money to provide homes for the homeless

Home

The native habitat, as of a plant or animal.

Home

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

Home

A headquarters; a home base.

Home

(Baseball) Home plate.

Home

(Games) Home base.

Home

An institution where people are cared for

A home for the elderly.

Home

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

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.

Home

Of or relating to a home, especially to one's household or house

Home cooking.

Home furnishings.

Home

Taking place in the home

Home care for the elderly.

Home

Of, relating to, or being a place of origin or headquarters

The home office.

Home

(Sports) Relating to a team's sponsoring institution or to the place where it is franchised

A home game.

The home field advantage.

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 '.

Home

At, to, or toward the direction of home

Going home for lunch.

Home

On or into the point at which something is directed

The arrow struck home.

Home

To the center or heart of something; deeply

Your comments really hit home.

Home

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

Home

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

Home

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

Home

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

Home

A dwelling.

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.

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.

Home

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

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

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.

Home

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

Home

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

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

Home

A focus point.

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.

Home

(baseball) Home plate.

Home

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

Home

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

Home

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

Home

Clipping of home directory

Home

To return to its owner.

The dog homed.

Home

To seek or aim for something.

The missile was able to home in on the target.

Home

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

Home

That strikes home; direct, pointed.

A home truth

Home

(obsolete) Personal, intimate.

Home

(sports) Relating to the home team (the team at whose venue a game is played).

The home end, home advantage, home supporters

Home

To one's home

Home

To one's place of residence or one's customary or official location

Go home

Come home

Carry someone home

Home

To one's place of birth

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

Home

(internet) To the home page

Click here to go home.

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!

Home

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

Home

Into the goal

Home

(nautical) into the right, proper or stowed position

Sails sheeted home

Home

See Homelyn.

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.

Home

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

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.

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.

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.

Home

The home base; as, he started for home.

Home

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

Home

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

Home

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

Home

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

Home

Close; closely.

How home the charge reaches us, has been made out.

They come home to men's business and bosoms.

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.

Home

To return home.

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.

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.

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?

Home

Housing that someone is living in;

He built a modest dwelling near the pond

They raise money to provide homes for the homeless

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

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

Home

An institution where people are cared for;

A home for the elderly

Home

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

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

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

Home

Place where something began and flourished;

The United States is the home of basketball

Home

Provide with, or send to, a home

Home

Return home accurately from a long distance;

Homing pigeons

Home

Used of your own ground;

A home game

Home

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

My home town

Home

Inside the country;

The British Home Office has broader responsibilities than the United States Department of the Interior

The nation's internal politics

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

Home

On or to the point aimed at;

The arrow struck home

Home

To the fullest extent; to the heart;

Drove the nail home

Drove his point home

His comments hit home

Home

A place where one lives permanently.

After a long trip, it's nice to return home.

Home

The familial or domestic environment.

The family gathered at their home for the holidays.

FAQs

Is 'dwelling' used in everyday language?

Dwelling is more commonly used in formal or legal contexts rather than everyday conversation.

What is a dwelling?

A dwelling is any place where people live, such as a house or apartment.

Can a dwelling be a home?

Yes, a dwelling can be a home if it holds personal importance and comfort for its residents.

What are examples of dwellings?

Examples of dwellings include houses, apartments, and shelters.

What defines a home?

A home is defined by its personal and emotional significance to its occupants.

Why is 'home' used more frequently than 'dwelling'?

Home is used more frequently because it conveys personal and emotional connections.

What makes a place a home?

A place becomes a home when it provides a sense of belonging, comfort, and personal significance.

Is an apartment a dwelling?

Yes, an apartment is a type of dwelling.

Can a temporary place be considered a home?

Yes, if it provides comfort and emotional connection, a temporary place can be considered a home.

What is a common synonym for home?

A common synonym for home is household.

What term do legal documents use to refer to living spaces?

Legal documents typically use the term dwelling.

What is the main difference between dwelling and home?

The main difference is that dwelling focuses on the physical structure, while home emphasizes emotional connection.

What term is used in real estate listings?

Both dwelling and home can be used in real estate listings, depending on the context.

What is a common synonym for dwelling?

A common synonym for dwelling is residence.

Do dwellings include non-permanent structures?

Yes, dwellings can include non-permanent structures like RVs or mobile homes.

Can an office be a dwelling?

No, an office is not typically considered a dwelling.

Is 'home' a subjective term?

Yes, home is subjective and based on personal feelings and connections.

Can a single building be both a dwelling and a home?

Yes, a single building can be both a dwelling and a home.

Is 'home' used in legal contexts?

Home is less commonly used in legal contexts compared to dwelling.

What is the emotional aspect of a home?

The emotional aspect of a home includes feelings of comfort, safety, and personal significance.

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About Author

Written by

Harlon Moss

Harlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.

Co-written by

Aimie Carlson

Aimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.