lavatory

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noun lav·a·to·ry \ ˈla-və-ˌtȯr-ē , British -və-t(ə-)rē \

Definition of lavatory

plural lavatories

1 :a vessel (such as a basin) for washing; especially :a fixed bowl or basin with running water and drainpipe for washing

2 :a room with conveniences for washing and usually with one or more toilets

the airplane's lavatory

3 :toilet 1a

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lavatory

adjective

See lavatory defined for English-language learners

See lavatory defined for kids

Examples of lavatory in a Sentence

a wide choice of lavatories on sale at plumbing supply stores
the school's filthy, broken-down lavatories were a disgrace

Recent Examples of lavatory from the Web

Seen via Youtube, a video of the incident has emerged, revealing the Blues supporter had fallen asleep in a lavatory cubicle as Harry Redknapp's men battled the Royals.

— SI.com, "VIDEO: Birmingham City Fan Misses Entire Game Following Ridiculous Toilet Break," 28 Aug. 2017
Alarmingly, a 2015 study by TravelMath that tested samples from hard surfaces in planes found that tray table surfaces had more than eight times the amount of bacteria per square inch than the lavatory flush buttons.

— julia zorthian, Time, "5 of the Filthiest Places to Avoid on Airplanes," 8 Aug. 2017
Silver’s new planes would feature wide cabins with slim lightweight seats, spacious overhead bins and full-size lavatories.

— arlene satchell, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Silver Airways plots new growth strategy with $1.1 billion aircraft order," 1 Aug. 2017
In a more sensible world, a woman such as Mensch would be running around a train station warning commuters about the spaceships in the lavatory car.

— charles c. w. cooke, National Review, "Louise Mensch’s Destructive Fantasies," 20 July 2017
Hudek returned to the lavatory for approximately two minutes.

— christine willmsen, Alaska Dispatch News, "Fists, bottles flew after man tried to open door on Seattle-Beijing flight, charges say," 8 July 2017
So, what's a preservation-minded solution to the lack of a lavatory in the old building?

— kim chatelain, NOLA.com, "Historic Dew Drop upgraded without disturbing the spirits of jazz," 16 June 2017
This romantic challenge is played for broad comedy in the first 20 minutes, but then a nightclub lavatory fight takes a grisly turn, and the movie shifts gears.

— glenn kenny, New York Times, "‘Amar Akbar & Tony,’ on Netflix, Trains a Lens on Immigrants in Britain," 16 June 2017
So how does one keep one's face beat when the lavatory is the size of a broom closet and the carry-on liquid threshold is still a measly 3.4 ounces?

— chelsea peng, Marie Claire, "5 Beauty Secrets of Flight Attendants," 8 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lavatory.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of lavatory

Middle English lavatorie, from Medieval Latin lavatorium, from Latin lavare to wash — more at lye

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First Known Use: 14th century

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lavatory Synonyms

Synonyms

bath, bathroom, bog [British], can, cloakroom [British], comfort station, convenience [chiefly British], head, john, latrine, toilet, loo [chiefly British], potty, restroom, washroom, water closet

Related Words

commode, pan [British], pot; garderobe, jakes, outhouse, privy; half bath, powder room; ladies [chiefly British], ladies' room, men's room

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

LAVATORY Defined for English Language Learners

lavatory

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noun

Definition of lavatory for English Language Learners

: a room with a toilet and sink
: a bathroom sink

LAVATORY Defined for Kids

lavatory

play

noun lav·a·to·ry \ ˈla-və-ˌtȯr-ē \

Definition of lavatory for Students

plural lavatories

1 :a small sink (as in a bathroom)

2 :a room for washing that usually has a toilet

3 :toilet 1

Learn More about lavatory

See words that rhyme with lavatory Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lavatory Spanish Central: Translation of lavatory Nglish: Translation of lavatory for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lavatory for Arabic speakers

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lavatory

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Examples of lavatory in a Sentence

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lavatory Synonyms

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LAVATORY Defined for English Language Learners

lavatory

Definition of lavatory for English Language Learners

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