mezzanine

American  

[mez-uh-neen, mez-uh-neen] / ˈmɛz əˌnin, ˌmɛz əˈnin /

noun

1. the lowest balcony or forward part of such a balcony in a theater.

2. a low story between two other stories of greater height in a building, especially when the low story and the one beneath it form part of one composition; an entresol.

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mezzanine British  

/ ˈmɛtsəˌniːn, ˈmɛzəˌniːn /

noun

1. Also called: mezzanine floor.   entresol.  an intermediate storey, esp a low one between the ground and first floor of a building

2. theatre the first balcony

3. theatre a room or floor beneath the stage

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adjective

1. Often shortened to: mezz.  of or relating to an intermediate stage in a financial process

   mezzanine funding

Etymology

Origin of mezzanine

1705–15; < French < Italian mezzanino, equivalent to mezzan ( o ) middle (< Latin mediānus median ) + -ino diminutive suffix

Compare meaning

How does mezzanine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• mezzanine vs. balcony

Explanation

If a sign in your hotel says, "Espresso bar is located on the mezzanine," it means that you can get your daily latte fix on the floor of your hotel that's one story above the ground floor. One meaning of mezzanine is "second floor," although usually the mezzanine level of a building is a partial floor, located between the ground floor and first floor. Another meaning of mezzanine is the lowest of a row of balconies in a theater or symphony hall. You might buy mezzanine tickets to a concert so that you have a good view of the stage. The Latin root of mezzanine is the word medianus, "of the middle."

Example Sentences

It included a mezzanine floor for VIPs that resembled an open-air symphony hall, and an even bigger LED screenscape to create a Vegas-like club experience.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Concerns were previously raised that the installation of a mezzanine floor could damage the fabric of the building and erode evidence of the its original layout.

From BBC • Jul. 16, 2025

Frosted glass surfaces, bright colors and a mezzanine add a sense of airiness to the windowless book conservation lab.

From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2024

The building has roughly $465 million in loans, including $350 million in commercial mortgage-backed securities and two mezzanine mortgages for $65 million and $50 million.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2024

Bows groaned as the archers on the mezzanine pulled their strings taut.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Related Words

• balcony