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

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

The energy in the room was part D.M.V., part papal antechamber. —Eric Lach, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025

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

The cardinals present will then pledge to the new pope, and he will be dressed in the Room of Tears, a small antechamber within the Sistine Chapel. —Paolo Armelli, Vogue, 21 Apr. 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