gents
n. plural-only B1 Intermediate US //ˈdʒɛnts// UK //dʒˈɛnts// gents
n. a polite or slightly funny way to say 'men'. You also use it to talk about a public toilet for men.
n. a colloquial shortening of 'gentlemen', used as a collective address or to refer to a male public lavatory.
The gents are over there by the entrance.
He excused himself from the table to visit the gents before the main course arrived.
A clipped form of gentlemen. As a room, via misspelling of gents', a clipped form of gentlemen's room.
Usage
Pluralia tantum when referring to the toilet facility; takes plural verb agreement ('The gents are closed').
Pitfall
Where is the gent?Where are the gents?When referring to the bathroom, the word is always plural and requires a plural verb.