# toilet

/ˈtɔɪɫət/ (US) · /tˈɔɪlət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/toilet
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the fixture

noun · CEFR A1

the large bowl in a bathroom that you use to get rid of waste from your body.

For teachers: a plumbing fixture used for urination and defecation, typically consisting of a bowl and a water-flushing mechanism.

- Don't forget to flush the toilet after you use it.
- The plumber explained that the ceramic toilet had a hairline crack near the base, which was causing the slow leak onto the floor tiles.

### 2. the room

noun · CEFR A1 · British English

a small room that contains a toilet.

For teachers: a room or enclosed area containing a toilet fixture; often used in British English where American English prefers 'restroom' or 'bathroom'.

- He asked the waiter where the toilets were located.
- The restaurant's toilets were located down a narrow flight of stairs, making them difficult to access for customers with limited mobility.

Usage: In British English, 'toilet' is the standard word for the room, whereas in American English it refers specifically to the porcelain fixture.

### 3. a dirty place

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a very dirty, messy, or unpleasant place.

For teachers: a figurative extension referring to a location perceived as exceptionally filthy, dilapidated, or socially undesirable.

- The old bus station was a complete toilet and smelled terrible.
- After years of neglect by the landlord, the once-elegant apartment building had turned into a literal toilet, with broken windows and piles of rubbish in the lobby.

### 4. personal grooming

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

the process of washing, dressing, and fixing your hair.

For teachers: the act or process of dressing and grooming oneself; historically used to describe a lady's morning routine.

- The queen spent two hours at her toilet before the ball began.
- In the eighteenth century, a noblewoman's toilet was a lengthy social affair involving several servants and the application of elaborate powders and perfumes.

### 5. to assist with bathroom needs

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to help a child or a sick person use the bathroom.

For teachers: to assist a dependent person, such as an infant or a patient, in the act of urination or defecation.

- The nurse had to toilet the patient every four hours.
- The care plan requires staff to toilet the residents regularly to maintain their comfort and prevent skin irritation.

Usage: This transitive use is primarily found in medical, caregiving, or childcare contexts.

## Examples

- Please remember to flush the toilet.
- The restaurant manager apologized because the guest toilet on the second floor was out of order.
- Modern urban infrastructure relies on a sophisticated network of sewers to transport waste from every household toilet to a centralized treatment plant.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.