Washroom

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈwɒʃrʊm/

Definitions

1. A confined space meant for personal cleanliness, usually with washing facilities and toilets present
2. A designated area for hygiene practices that includes both sanitation devices and sinks for cleaning purposes
3. A space intended for personal grooming that typically features toilets as well as washing areas

Etymology: The name "washroom" is a plain compound of "wash" and "room," and its history lies in what the room was meant to hold. The room is named for its sinks, the place where people washed their hands and faces, rather than for the toilets it also contains. The word is widely used as a polite alternative to blunter terms, and its euphemistic use is common outside Canada and the United States, where the same room is more often called a restroom or bathroom. The gap between the literal name and the function is the heart of the word. A room labelled for washing suggests cleanliness and decorum, which is exactly why it works as a discreet way of asking for the toilet. The word itself stays literal in meaning: it names a room, and a room that happens to hold the lavatory is simply the place where one has a wash.

Synonyms: bathroom, restroom, toilet