dormitory

noun

dor·​mi·​to·​ry ˈdȯr-mə-ˌtȯr-ē 

plural dormitories

1

: a room for sleeping

especially : a large room containing numerous beds

2

: a residence hall providing rooms for individuals or for groups usually without private baths

3

chiefly British : a residential community inhabited chiefly by commuters

Examples of dormitory in a Sentence

Guests at the camp can stay in private cabins or for a smaller fee in the dormitories.

Recent Examples on the Web

Later that year, Lori and Guy helped Ryder move into his freshman-year dormitory at San Diego State University. —Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026

The plan was always for two new buildings and the renovation of one old building, a former Johnson & Wales University dormitory that was later turned into a nursing home. —Wheeler Cowperthwaite, The Providence Journal, 21 Jan. 2026

Smith said several detainees described overcrowding in some dormitories. —Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026

Players live in a large dormitory, get to know each other and then play to send each other home. —Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin dormitorium, from dormire

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dormitory

• dormitory town

Rhymes for dormitory

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• category
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• excretory
• extempore
• feudatory
• gustatory

Kids Definition

dormitory

noun

dor·​mi·​to·​ry ˈdȯr-mə-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

plural dormitories

1

: a sleeping room especially for several people

2

: a residence hall having many sleeping rooms