Search

a room or a group of related rooms, among similar sets in one building, designed for use as a dwelling.
a building containing or made up of such rooms.
any separated room or group of rooms in a house or other dwelling:
We heard cries from an apartment at the back of the house.
apartments, British. a set of rooms used as a dwelling by one person or one family.
Contemporary Examples

Due to the ongoing investigation, the Aurora Police Department would not confirm which chemicals were discovered in the apartment.
Explosion of James Holmes’ Apartment Would Have Been ‘Catastrophic’ Christine Pelisek, Eliza Shapiro July 22, 2012

So we went over to his apartment, and he greets us and sits cross-legged on this huge wing chair.
Partying with George Plimpton Nelson Aldrich October 25, 2008

He had written that one early morning in 2002, he was taken out of his apartment and asked to sit in a car.
From Terror Suspect to College Graduate Amitava Kumar May 18, 2012

He makes hundreds of millions a year and bought a $45 million apartment in the billionaire motel at 15 Central Park West.
Activist Investor Dan Loeb Tagets Auction House Sotheby’s William O’Connor October 2, 2013

He was waiting for his mother and sister so they could also leave the shelter and see the state of their apartment.
After Hurricane Sandy, a Trickle of Evacuees at Brooklyn Shelter Michael Keller October 29, 2012

Historical Examples

They were shown at once into the apartment in which Henry Dunbar sat waiting for them.
Henry Dunbar M. E. Braddon

What is the use of a beautiful face, if one must be shut up in her own apartment for ever?
Philothea Lydia Maria Child

The lady-helps have their own apartment; but I decline to justify myself.
The Thin Red Line; and Blue Blood Arthur Griffiths

Philothea has glided from the apartment, as if afraid to remain in my presence.
Philothea Lydia Maria Child

Julia averted her eyes, and blushed scarlet, but placed her hand in that of the count just as her mother entered the apartment.
The Three Brides, Love in a Cottage, and Other Tales Francis A. Durivage

noun
(often pl) any room in a building, usually one of several forming a suite, esp one that is spacious and well furnished and used as living accommodation, offices, etc

another name (esp US and Canadian) for flat2 (sense 1)
(as modifier): apartment building, apartment house

n.

1640s, “private rooms for the use of one person within a house,” from French appartement (16c.), from Italian appartimento, literally “a separated place,” from appartere “to separate,” from a “to” (see ad-) + parte “side, place,” from Latin partem (see part (n.)). Sense of “set of private rooms in a building entirely of these” (the U.S. equivalent of British flat) is first attested 1874.