urinal

noun

uri·​nal ˈyər-ə-nᵊl How to pronounce urinal (audio)
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
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.
But the lively crew at the urinals was already licking its lips in anticipation. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026 But the lively gentlemen at the urinals were already licking their lips in anticipation. — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026 Another man slept with a urinal hanging off his bed, and a bucket underneath to empty the urinal, records say. — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026 Cattelan duct-taped a banana to a wall, Hirst put a shark in a tank of formaldehyde, and Duchamp put a urinal in a gallery and signed with a fake name. — Lis Anderson, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for urinal

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of urinal was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Urinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/urinal. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a container for receiving urine
also : a place for urinating

Medical Definition

1
: a vessel into which a bedridden person urinates
2
: a container worn by a person with urinary incontinence
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