lavatory

noun

A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly:

A laver: a washbasin.

(Christianity) A piscina: the basin used for washing communion vessels.

(Christianity) A lavabo: the basin used for washing one's hands before handling the Eucharist.

(Christianity, usually figurative) A baptismal font: the basin used for baptism, used figuratively for the washing away of sins.

(construction, interior design) A plumbing fixture used for washing: a sink.

Handwashing as an act, particularly

(Christianity) The lavabo: the ritual washing of hands before handling the eucharist.

(Christianity) The ritual washing of hands after using the piscina to clean the communion vessels.

(euphemistic) A room containing a toilet: a bathroom (US) or WC (UK).

(UK, New England) A plumbing fixture for urination and defecation: a toilet.

(dated) A washroom: a room used for washing the face and hands.

(dated) A place to wash clothes: a laundry.

(archaic) A bathtub.

(obsolete) A liquid used in washing; a lotion; a wash; a rinse.

(obsolete) A place where gold is panned.

(obsolete) A paved room in a mortuary where corpses are kept under a shower of disinfecting fluid.

adjective

(dated) Washing, or cleansing by washing.

Roots

lavolav- · Latin · wash

Synonyms for lavatory

toiletn bathroomn washbasinn washbowln washroomn washstandn privyadj crappern loon latrinen urinaln lavabon basinn bathtubn outhousen bathn tubn bathhousen showern

Words related to lavatory

restroomn toiletten lavatorial bidetsn commoden toile balneal poopingn bedpann pottyn chamberpotn faucetsn flusheradj sinksv pottinessn tubfuln cloakroomn washhousen cubiclen peeingn pissoir

Synonyms & related words for lavatory

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of lavatory — including toilet, bathroom, washbasin, washbowl, washroom, washstand. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to lavatory

Explore words related to lavatory — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include restroom, toilette, lavatorial, bidets, commode, toile, balneal, pooping. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for lavatory

Common synonyms for lavatory include toilet, bathroom, washbasin, washbowl, washroom, washstand, privy, crapper — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does lavatory come from?

The word lavatory breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root lav-, from Latin lavo (“wash”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.