antechamber

noun

an·​te·​cham·​ber ˈan-ti-ˌchām-bər 

: anteroom

Did you know?

One expects to find an antechamber outside the private chambers of a Supreme Court Justice or leading into the great hall of a medieval castle. In the private end of the castle the lord's or lady's bedchamber would have its own antechamber, which served as a dressing room and sitting room, but could also house bodyguards if the castle came under siege. Anteroom is a less formal synonym, one that's often applied to the waiting rooms of professional offices today.

Examples of antechamber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Entry has been moved to the garden, where you’re greeted by a hostess who escorts you into an antechamber with a bar, and you’re invited to order a pre-dinner cocktail. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

For 10 long years, the sovereign toiled in a 2-by-10-foot castle antechamber to create the perfect beer. — Bill Swank, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2026

The doors open up to an antechamber set with chairs and benches. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026

The locker rooms and antechambers behind the scenes are drab and plain. — Richard Lawson, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French antichambre, from Middle French, from Italian anti- (from Latin ante-) + Middle French chambre room

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for antechamber

• bedchamber
• chamber

Kids Definition

antechamber

noun

an·​te·​cham·​ber ˈant-i-ˌchām-bər 

: anteroom