vestibule

noun

ves·​ti·​bule ˈve-stə-ˌbyül 

1

a

: a passage, hall, or room between the outer door and the interior of a building : lobby

b

: an enclosed entrance at the end of a railway passenger car

2

: any of various bodily cavities especially when serving as or resembling an entrance to some other cavity or space: such as

a

: the central cavity of the bony labyrinth of the inner ear or the parts (such as the saccule and utricle) of the membranous labyrinth that it contains

b

: the part of the left ventricle below the aortic orifice

c

: the space between the labia minora containing the orifice of the urethra

d

: the part of the mouth cavity outside the teeth and gums

3

: a course that offers access (as to something new)

vestibuled

ˈve-stə-ˌbyüld 

adjective

Synonyms

• entranceway
• entry
• entryway
• foyer
• hall
• hallway
• lobby

Examples of vestibule in a Sentence

please leave your wet boots in the vestibule

Recent Examples on the Web

The entrance, from a terrace with a pergola, opens to the vestibule, between the living and dining rooms, both with fireplaces. —Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023

Beyond the staffed lobby and private elevator vestibule, the apartment’s regal entrance gallery stretches 40 feet long with an eye-catching geometric parquet floor. —Mark David, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2023

According to federal prosecutors, Bacon spent 50 minutes inside the Capitol during the attack, walking through the Crypt, Hall of Columns, Rotunda, the East Rotunda Door vestibule area, the Senate Gallery, and the Senate chamber. —Martin Finucane, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2023

The dual-door openings and vestibules are fantastic when two people are staying in the tent, and interior pockets for smaller items like headlamps, phones, and keys are perfect for organization. —Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2023

Tents that have two doors often have two vestibules. —Meg Carney, Field & Stream, 27 Sep. 2023

Past a wooden gate in Valle de Bravo, a lakeside town two hours west of Mexico City, a narrow path along a brick wall leads to a dim, cell-like vestibule that all but eliminates the world beyond. —Suleman Anaya Fabian Martinez, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023

Investigators recovered a 9mm shell casing outside the vestibule, and a 9mm Canik firearm from the vestibule. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 10 Aug. 2023

The toile wallcovering and crystal floral chandelier in this vestibule designed by Heather Hilliard segues into the blue bedroom beyond seamlessly. —Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 27 June 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Latin vestibulum forecourt

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing vestibule

• vestibule school

• vestibule school

Kids Definition

vestibule

noun

ves·​ti·​bule ˈves-tə-ˌbyü(ə)l 

: a hall or room between the outer door and the inside part of a building

Medical Definition

vestibule

noun

ves·​ti·​bule ˈves-tə-ˌbyül 

: any of various bodily cavities especially when serving as or resembling an entrance to some other cavity or space: as

a(1)

: the central cavity of the bony labyrinth of the ear

(2)

: the parts of the membranous labyrinth comprising the utricle and the saccule and contained in the cavity of the bony labyrinth

b

: the space between the labia minora containing the orifice of the urethra

c

: the part of the left ventricle of the heart immediately below the aortic orifice

d

: the part of the mouth cavity outside the teeth and gums