English Reference
Noun

dormitory

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US /ˈdɔɹməˌtɔɹi/ UK /dˈɔːmɪtəɹˌi/ dor·mi·to·ry UK spelling dormitories, dormitory's

n.a large room with many beds where people sleep, or a building at a college where students live.

n.a large bedroom containing numerous beds for several people, or a residential building providing sleeping quarters for students or staff at an institution.


SIMPLE

I live in a college dormitory with three other students.

CONTEXTUAL

The university built a new dormitory to house the growing number of international students arriving each semester.

COMPLEX

While the historic dormitory offered a sense of tradition, many students preferred the modern apartments for their increased privacy and updated kitchen facilities.

Usage

Often shortened to 'dorm' in informal American English.


From Middle English dormitory, dormytory, dormytorye, borrowed from Latin dormītōrium (“a sleeping-room”), from dormiō (“to sleep”). Doublet of dormitorium and dorter.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin dormītōrium
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated