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Synonyms

massage parlor

American  

noun

  1. a commercial establishment providing massages.

  2. a commercial establishment providing sexual services under the guise of offering massages.


Etymology

Origin of massage parlor

First recorded in 1910–15

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.

Ruger is headquartered in a nondescript two-story office block in Southport, Conn., next to a massage parlor and beauty salon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Told she has “magic hands” as a masseuse in prison, Roach opens a massage parlor in the same building as an empanada shop.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 3, 2023

“Even jail isn’t like that,” said Wu Qunlin, 56, who runs a massage parlor here, recalling the two-week barricade in July — his second lockdown this year.

From New York Times • Dec. 4, 2022

Apparently, the cameo by Brady had been organized long before Kraft's massage parlor scandal was uncovered and Brady later denied the scene was supposed to be about Kraft and his legal troubles.

From Fox News • Feb. 1, 2022

Yet this paper’s initial headline about the Atlanta killings — later changed — seemed to give credence to the official account: “Suspect in Atlanta-area massage parlor shootings had ‘sexual addiction,’ authorities say.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2021

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