granny flat

plural granny flats

1. AustraliaNew ZealandUKinformalA dwelling detached from a primary residence, traditionally designated for a member of an extended family to live in.

   Near-synonyms: granny annexe, granny room, in-law unit, mother-in-law apartment, secondary suite, casita, garden apartment, ADU (“accessory dwelling unit”)

   2 more examples

   Hundreds of people have built houses, granny flats, apartments and log cabins without planning permission across Ireland in the last 15 years.

   2023 August 5, Amy Molloy, “Hundreds build houses, granny flats and log cabins without permissions”, in Irish Independent, page 5

   AARP, the research and advocacy behemoth, has begun aggressively promoting the spread of these units, often referred to as casitas or, more cheekily, granny flats.

   2023 September 6, Michelle Cottle, “The Magic of the Granny Flat”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms: granny annexe, granny room, in-law unit, mother-in-law apartment, secondary suite, casita, garden apartment, ADU