bathtub

American  

[bath-tuhb, bahth-] / ˈbæθˌtʌb, ˈbɑθ- /

noun

• bathtubs
  plural

1. a tub to bathe in, especially one that is a permanent fixture in a bathroom.

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bathtub British  

/ ˈbɑːθˌtʌb /

noun

1. a bath, esp one not permanently fixed

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bathtubs
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of bathtub

First recorded in 1825–35; bath ¹ + tub

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Explanation

A bathtub is a bathroom fixture, a tub that you can fill with water for bathing. Some people like to soak in a bathtub at the end of a long day. Many bathtubs are made of ceramic or porcelain, and they're large enough for an adult to lie down in at least partially submerged in water. Some bathrooms have only a bathtub, or only a shower, while others have both. In Britain, it's more common to call a bathtub simply a bath. During Prohibition in 1920s America, "bathtub gin" referred to any kind of home-brewed alcohol, whether it was actually made in a bathtub or not.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bathtub bathtubs

It also met Jordan’s wish list of requirements: It has a bathtub and in-unit laundry and is on the first floor, making her loading and unloading of work supplies easier.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

This is roughly equivalent to stopping an overflowing bathtub by shutting off the water to the entire apartment building because you cannot get to the faucet.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

The only thing that really matters is whether the kid runs out the door to play, or has to be pried off the bed like a cat that hears the bathtub running.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

A content creator who took a bathtub up a mountain and left it there has apologised for what he called an "honest mistake".

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Hissing, the agile creature dropped to the floor, raced over to the bathtub, and vaulted inside.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

ALTER: Freestanding bathtubs look good in magazines, and they may be safe for people during their peak years of agility and fitness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Just like sinks and bathtubs have overflow drains to prevent spills, human cells appear to have a similar built-in safeguard.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026

Built in 2008, it features parquet de Versailles flooring, 18th-century French Louis XV–carved stone fireplaces, and hand-carved marble bathtubs.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 5, 2026

Devastating, often tragic as the Los Angeles wildfires have been, rebuilding could bring nightmares all its own, including murky insurance rules, material shortages and potentially higher cost for everything from lumber to bathtubs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2025

The bathroom at the end of our corridor had two seawater showers, a saltwater tap, and three large galvanized metal buckets, which were used as bathtubs.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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