walk-in

1 of 2

adjective

ˈwȯk-ˌin 

1

: large enough to be walked into

a walk-in closet

2

: arranged so as to be entered directly rather than through a lobby

a walk-in apartment

3

a

: being a person who walks in without an appointment

a walk-in blood donor

b

: of, relating to, or intended for such persons

a walk-in clinic

walk-in

2 of 2

noun

1

: a walk-in refrigerator or cold storage room

2

: an easy election victory

3

: a person who walks in without an appointment

Examples of walk-in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The event is walk-in only with food and drink available for purchase. — Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026

Inspectors observed a dead cockroach in the corner of the walk-in cooler. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026

Noun

The walk-in refrigerator is bare. — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026

The back room of Flod’s studio is like a butcher’s walk-in fridge, where dozens more masks hang from the ceiling, each more outlandish than the last. — Ryan Steven Green, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for walk-in

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• crankpin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin

Kids Definition

walk-in

adjective

ˌwȯ-ˌkin

1

: large enough to be walked into

a walk-in closet

2

: being or relating to a person who walks in without an appointment

Medical Definition

walk-in

1 of 2 adjective

ˈwȯk-ˌin 

: providing medical services to ambulatory patients without an appointment

a walk-in clinic

also : being an individual who uses such services

walk-in

2 of 2 noun

: a walk-in patient