bathtub

American  

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

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of bathtub

First recorded in 1825–35; bath ¹ + tub

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

The long version could only have happened to Prince — he fell from an on-stage bathtub from which he planned to sing “Purple Rain” — but what came after was routine.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

For 250 years, it hasn’t been Archimedes in a bathtub, but tinkerers in workshops and scientists in labs, embracing—and capitalizing on—their blunders.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Karen said the cubs seemed to feel safe within the small box, which was then placed in her bathtub.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

A ceramic red-haired mermaid sits in the corner of her spacious bathtub.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

Every morning he soaped his chest and arms and neck and feet—and about twice during the season he got into the bathtub and cleaned all of his parts.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers