urinal

noun

uri·​nal ˈyər-ə-nᵊl How to pronounce urinal (audio)
ˈyu̇r-
British also yu̇-ˈrī-nᵊl
1
: a vessel for receiving urine
2
a
: a building or enclosure with facilities for urinating
b
: a fixture used for urinating

Examples of urinal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Ford was also designed without urinals, which use less water than toilets. Steve Walsh, NPR, 17 Mar. 2026 The retrospective paints a fuller picture of the man who famously turned a urinal into a sculpture and coined a whole new category, the readymade. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026 Overall, men’s facilities — including toilets and urinals — outnumber female ones three to one. Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026 The seven-bedroom home was constructed in 1882 by a colonel and boasts many of its original details including handcrafted bookshelves, an antique wall safe and even a cast-iron urinal. Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 1 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for urinal

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin, from Latin urina

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of urinal was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Urinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urinal. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

urinal

noun
uri·​nal ˈyu̇r-ən-ᵊl How to pronounce urinal (audio)
: a container for receiving urine
also : a place for urinating

Medical Definition

urinal

noun
uri·​nal ˈyu̇r-ən-ᵊl How to pronounce urinal (audio)
1
: a vessel into which a bedridden person urinates
2
: a container worn by a person with urinary incontinence

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