multifamily

adjective

mul·​ti·​fam·​i·​ly ˌməl-tē-ˈfam-lē 

-ˌtī-, 

-ˈfa-mə-lē

: involving or common to more than one family

a multifamily home

In contrast to single-family housing, where residents typically pay directly based on the amount of water used, there are several models for billing multifamily residents …

—Elizabeth A. Wentz et al.

Examples of multifamily in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But Chicago still needs better zoning and permitting to jump-start development, such as allowing multifamily buildings on smaller-sized lots. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

Prosecutors said the woman was found Sunday naked and malnourished on a mat in the attic of a multifamily home on Summer Street. — Oscar Margain, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026

At National Mortgage Center, another DSCR lender, even buyers of short-term rentals can often be approved, and sometimes multifamily projects of more than five units make the grade. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

Ablin also pointed to the vulnerability in multifamily properties financed with floating-rate bridge loans in 2021 and 2022, when borrowing costs were far lower and expectations for rent growth were stronger. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for multifamily

• family
• nonfamily
• stepfamily
• subfamily