day room

American  

Or dayroom

noun

1. a room at an institution, as on a military base, providing facilities for leisure activities.

2. (in a hospital) a recreation room for ambulatory patients.

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day room British  

noun

1. a communal living room in a residential institution such as a hospital

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Etymology

Origin of day room

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

"They'd written observations of Winbourne being in the day room, sitting there eating his breakfast, and this was three days after he'd passed away," says Carole.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2025

When we spoke to her, Vivien sat in the women’s day room at CASS, which serves as the recreation and lounge area within the dormitories.

From Slate • Jun. 27, 2023

Inspectors who took a tour of Central post-transfer found playing cards at the table in the day room — evidence, they said, of a hastily orchestrated departure.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2022

Perhaps the world’s least calming yoga studio, David-Jeremiah’s installation at CulturalDC’s pop-up space is modeled on a prison day room.

From Washington Post • Aug. 19, 2022

I remember that you were a fairly good pool player and I can picture you quite clearly in the Company day room at the pool table.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote