dormitory

noun

dor·​mi·​to·​ry ˈdȯr-mə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce dormitory (audio)
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 There was another death on UGA's campus at a student dormitory on Feb. 21, but foul play was not suspected and it was not connected to the homicide case, UGA police said. Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 Overnight rates include three wholesome meals (including meat, fish, and vegan options) and accommodations that range from private hotel-style rooms to more budget-friendly dormitories. Julia Eskins, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2024 At seafood plants, the women sleep in bunk beds in locked dormitories, sometimes thirty to a room. Ian Urbina, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024 Xanterra said there is no target date for reopening the dormitories. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 17 Jan. 2024 To meet quotas, authorities also use coercive methods such as conducting raids on factories, dormitories, and even restaurants looking for men to enlist, and pressuring immigrants and inmates. Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2024 For much of her career, Ms. Irom, 44, helped run dormitories for Haredi girls who had left home because of problems with their families. Natan Odenheimer, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 The university’s pain has only been deepened by the death of another student who was found dead in a UGA dormitory the night before Riley’s killing. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024 Tangent The University of Georgia had also announced another on-campus death after a body was found in the school’s Brumby Hall dormitory Wednesday, though authorities have said there is no link between the two cases. James Farrell, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dormitory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin dormitorium, from dormire

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dormitory was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near dormitory

Cite this Entry

“Dormitory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dormitory. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dormitory

noun
dor·​mi·​to·​ry ˈdȯr-mə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce dormitory (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
plural dormitories
1
: a sleeping room especially for several people
2
: a residence hall having many sleeping rooms
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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