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foyer

American  
[foi-er, foi-ey, fwa-yey] / ˈfɔɪ ər, ˈfɔɪ eɪ, fwaˈyeɪ /

noun

plural

foyers
  1. the lobby of a theater, hotel, or apartment house.

  2. a vestibule or entrance hall in a house or apartment.


foyer British  
/ ˈfɔɪeɪ, ˈfɔɪə /

noun

  1. a hall, lobby, or anteroom, used for reception and as a meeting place, as in a hotel, theatre, cinema, etc

  2. (in Britain) a centre providing accommodation and employment training, etc. for homeless young people

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of foyer

1855–60; < French: fireplace, hearth (originally a room to which theater audiences went for warmth between the acts) < Gallo-Latin *focārium, equivalent to Latin foc ( us ) hearth ( cf. focus) + -ārium -arium

Explanation

A foyer is a large entrance, like the foyer of a building that you enter before you reach the elevators. Sometimes a foyer is also called a "lobby." Foyer originally was a term in French that referred to the room where actors waited when they were not on stage. Today, a foyer is a large entrance to a building or home. The bigger and fancier a mansion, office or apartment building is, the bigger and more ornate the foyer will likely be. After all, the foyer will be the first room that visitors see when entering.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Mariinsky said Monday it will host a memorial service for its late performer Thursday at its White Foyer.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2024

Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer are also suspended above the Grand Foyer.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 27, 2023

Roz Foyer, general secretary of the STUC, said school support workers had "no choice" but to take action later this month to get a fair pay deal.

From BBC • Sep. 17, 2023

The Cross Hall and Grand Foyer feature metal ribbons with the names of the 57 states and territories and mark the year each entered the Union.

From Washington Times • Nov. 28, 2022

On the title-page, in the same hand-writing as the "Answer," is the name of the Rev. Archibald Foyer, with the date 1700.

From Notes and Queries, Number 65, January 25, 1851 by Various