foyer

noun

foy·​er ˈfȯi(-ə)r How to pronounce foyer (audio) ˈfȯi-ˌ(y)ā How to pronounce foyer (audio)
also ˈfwä-ˌyā
Synonyms of foyernext
: an anteroom or lobby especially of a theater
also : an entrance hallway : vestibule

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The main level includes a grand foyer, according to its listing, with a curved staircase, a front parlor with pocket doors, a formal dining room and a renovated kitchen with soapstone counters, wine fridge and a sitting area with a warming stove. Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026 Guests enter a circular foyer lined with bookshelves and push past a heavy black curtain, stepping into a main room with high ceilings and a long, table-like bar. Jenna Thompson april 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026 The foyer, living area, and primary bedroom at one end of the apartment remain largely unchanged, while Ruttenberg added a new central hallway to access the other spaces efficiently. Alyssa Bird, Architectural Digest, 17 Apr. 2026 In the hospital foyer, the couple paused for selfies and crouched to speak with children in wheelchairs. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foyer

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foyer was in 1833

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Foyer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foyer. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

foyer

noun
1
: a lobby especially in a theater
2
: an entrance hallway : vestibule

More from Merriam-Webster on foyer

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster