parlor

American  

[pahr-ler] / ˈpɑr lər /

especially British, parlour

noun

1. Older Use. a room for the reception and entertainment of visitors to one's home; living room.

2. a room, apartment, or building serving as a place of business for certain businesses or professions.

   funeral parlor; beauty parlor.

3. a somewhat private room in a hotel, club, or the like for relaxation, conversation, etc.; lounge.

4. Also called locutorium.  a room in a monastery or the like where the inhabitants may converse with visitors or with each other.

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adjective

1. advocating something, as a political view or doctrine, at a safe remove from actual involvement in or commitment to action.

   parlor leftism; parlor pink.

Etymology

Origin of parlor

1175–1225; Middle English parlur < Anglo-French; Old French parleor, equivalent to parl ( er ) to speak ( parle ) + -eor -or ²

Example Sentences

Don't call it the "Marty Supreme" effect: table tennis is a growing sport in the United States, in part because of a new professional league giving the parlor game an ultra-competitive edge.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The fatherly proprietor of a Times Square ping-pong parlor where Marty trains?

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

But unlike many aspects of AI that are truly transformational, the humanoid fascination will ultimately prove to be a parlor trick with few practical applications.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

“Accessing the parlor level, Carrara marble stairs rise with mahogany bannisters, reinforced at the landings with wrought iron bars that provide both safety and beauty—an architectural detail that reflects the craftsmanship carried throughout the home.”

From MarketWatch • Nov. 26, 2025

She suggested we ditch dinner altogether and go to an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that she and Uncle Jack used to love.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

• drawing room
• living room
• lounge
• salon