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 of vestibule

• foyer
• hallway
• lobby

Examples of vestibule in a Sentence

please leave your wet boots in the vestibule

Recent Examples on the Web

As the courtroom was cleared, observers walked past a woman’s wig on the floor at the vestibule door. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2026

An image of the old bank building that was torn down appears on the wallpaper in the vestibule of the Fifth Third Bank branch in the building that replaced it. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026

Police said three males exited a vehicle and entered the vestibule with guns and opened fire, striking the victim multiple times. —Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

Then shed that dirty layer in the vestibule before diving into your tent with totally dry clothes. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin vestibulum forecourt

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing vestibule

• vestibule school

Rhymes for vestibule

• minuscule
• molecule
• overrule
• poiseuille
• reticule
• ridicule
• ampoule
• bascule
• carpool
• cesspool
• ferrule
• footstool

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