English Reference
Noun

washroom

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US /ˈwɑʃˌɹum/ UK /wˈɒʃɹuːm/ wash·room UK spelling washrooms

n.a room in a building where you can wash your hands and face. It is a polite or formal way to say 'toilet' or 'bathroom'.

n.a room containing a washbasin and typically a mirror, used for washing the hands and face. Often used as a euphemism for a toilet or bathroom in professional or formal contexts.


SIMPLE

The washroom is located just down the hallway to the left.

CONTEXTUAL

After the long flight, the passengers were relieved to find a clean washroom in the terminal.

COMPLEX

The hotel lobby features a spacious marble washroom designed for guests to freshen up before entering the main dining hall for the evening gala.


From wash + room in reference to its sinks, but generally used euphemistically outside of Canada and the United States.

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

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated