kiosk

American  

[kee-osk, kee-osk] / ˈki ɒsk, kiˈɒsk /

noun

1. a small structure having one or more sides open, used as a newsstand, refreshment stand, bandstand, etc.

2. a thick, columnlike structure on which notices, advertisements, etc., are posted.

3. an interactive computer terminal available for public use, as one with internet access or site-specific information.

   Students use kiosks to look up campus events.

4. an open pavilion or summerhouse common in Turkey and Iran.

5. British. a telephone booth.

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kiosk British  

/ ˈkiːɒsk /

noun

1. a small sometimes movable booth from which cigarettes, newspapers, light refreshments, etc, are sold

2. a telephone box

3. a thick post on which advertisements are posted

4. (in Turkey, Iran, etc, esp formerly) a light open-sided pavilion

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Etymology

Origin of kiosk

First recorded in 1615–25; from French kiosque “stand in a public park,” ultimately from Turkish köşk “villa,” from Persian kūshk “palace, villa”

Example Sentences

A little zest rubbed directly into the yogurt gives it that sun-dappled brunch energy — not “airport kiosk at 6:12 a.m.”

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

A check-in kiosk in the lobby spit out our orange water-park passes and saved me from standing in line at the front desk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026

“Travelers will process with a kiosk system that captures their biometric data and compares it to TSA’s Secure Flight watchlists,” said Tom Spagnola, senior vice president of Partner Relations at CheapOair.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2025

Even if you’ve never heard of Arcadia Publishing, you’ve undoubtedly come upon their books at some point—displayed in a gift shop kiosk, stocked in an airport bookstore or neighborhood library, or even at a CVS.

From Slate • Nov. 3, 2025

Max marches right up to a kiosk with T-shirts and souvenirs.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi

Related Words

• booth
• newsstand
• stall