foyer

noun

foy·​er ˈfȯi(-ə)r  ˈfȯi-ˌ(y)ā 

also ˈfwä-ˌyā

: an anteroom or lobby especially of a theater

also : an entrance hallway : vestibule

Synonyms of foyer

• lobby

Examples of foyer in a Sentence

theatergoers crowded the foyer during the play's intermission

leave your muddy boots in the foyer and come into the house

Recent Examples on the Web

Tailored for grand-scale leisure and entertainment, a double-height, skylit entry foyer boasting a sweeping artisan ironwork staircase leads to formal living and dining rooms. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026

That same day, representatives of East Berlin’s theaters gathered secretly in the side foyer of the Volksbühne, which had opened in 1914 as part of a socialist effort to break the upper-class monopoly on education and the arts. — Ian Johnson, The New York Review of Books, 11 Oct. 2026

The building's sunlit foyer is a treasure trove of vintage rugs, antique furniture, and shelves lined with museum-worthy collectibles. — Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Ionic columns mark the entry, leading to a foyer with sweeping staircases under 14-foot ceilings. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, fireplace, from Vulgar Latin *focarium, from Latin focus hearth

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foyer

• oyer
• destroyer
• employer
• multiemployer

Kids Definition

foyer

noun

foy·​er ˈfȯi(-ə)r  ˈfȯi-ˌ(y)ā 

1

: a lobby especially in a theater

2

: an entrance hallway : vestibule