street slang, a trap house is a location—such as an abandoned building, apartment, or rental home—used exclusively as a base of operations for illegal drug sales or usage. [1, 2, 3]

Key details about the term include:

• The Origin: Originating in the Atlanta hip-hop scene in the early 2000s, the term comes from the slang word “trapping,” which means selling drugs. [1, 2]
• The “Trap”: The setup often involves reinforced doors or a single entry/exit to avoid police and rival robberies. It is a “trap” because it keeps customers trapped in cycles of addiction and keeps dealers tied to the constant hustle. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Cultural Influence: The term is heavily glamorized in “trap music,” a popular Southern hip-hop subgenre. [1, 2]
• Modern Slang: Outside of criminal contexts, younger generations on social media sometimes use “trap house” ironically or playfully to describe a messy bedroom or chaotic party house. [1]