halfway house
noun
1
a
: a place to stop midway on a journey
b
: a halfway place in a progression
2
: a residence for individuals after release from institutionalization (as for mental illness, drug addiction, or criminal activity) that is designed to facilitate their readjustment to private life
Examples of halfway house in a Sentence
The car is the perfect halfway house between a family caravan and luxury sedan.
Recent Examples on the Web
The lawsuit also names The Connection, which runs a community treatment program at the halfway house where Grayson was killed.
—Dave Collins, Fortune, 6 May 2024
He was accused of violating his probation twice: once in 2019 for not reporting to a halfway house after his release from federal prison in Central Florida, and again, in 2022, after he was arrested by Orlando police for alleged stalking.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for halfway house
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'halfway house.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near halfway house
Cite this Entry
“Halfway house.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halfway%20house. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
halfway house
noun
: a place that provides living quarters and usually counseling to persons who have left an institution (as a prison or mental hospital) but are not ready to live in the community
Medical Definition
halfway house
noun
half·way house
ˈhaf-ˈwā-, ˈhȧf-
: a center for individuals after institutionalization (as for mental illness or drug addiction) that is designed to facilitate their readjustment to private life
Legal Definition
halfway house
noun
half·way house
: a residence for formerly institutionalized individuals (as mental patients, drug addicts, or convicts) that is designed to facilitate their readjustment to private life
More from Merriam-Webster on halfway house
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for halfway house
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share