urinal

noun

uri·​nal ˈyər-ə-nᵊl 

ˈyu̇r-

British also yu̇-ˈrī-nᵊl

1

: a vessel for receiving urine

2

a

: a building or enclosure with facilities for urinating

b

: a fixture used for urinating

Examples of urinal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the days between Games 4 and 5, my dad acquired one of those portable urinals, the plastic jar with a handle on the side designed specifically for people who are injured and unable to move. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 14 June 2026

The restroom had only urinals and offered little protection from the chaos unfolding outside. — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026

There’s a running gag about vampires peeing blood at public urinals This marvelously fun shift in tone more than justifies the title change. — Judy Berman, Time, 2 June 2026

Multiple times during the trip, the crew had to use manual urinals instead. — Brendan Byrne, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin, from Latin urina

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for urinal

• chaparral
• ileal
• nonformal
• perceval
• rationale
• supernal
• artisanal
• bal
• dal
• gal
• mal
• pal

Kids Definition

urinal

noun

uri·​nal ˈyu̇r-ən-ᵊl 

: a container for receiving urine

also : a place for urinating

Medical Definition

urinal

noun

uri·​nal ˈyu̇r-ən-ᵊl 

1

: a vessel into which a bedridden person urinates

2

: a container worn by a person with urinary incontinence