powder room

American  

noun

1. a room containing a toilet and washing facilities for women; lavatory.

2. such a room provided for the use of female guests, as in a restaurant or nightclub.

---

powder room British  

noun

1. euphemistic a lavatory for women in a restaurant, department store, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of powder room

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The garden level features a guest suite, a powder room, and a basement with a gym, laundry, and storage.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 12, 2026

In a similarly small powder room, Elliott situated a painting of a dog in a business suit against a backdrop of playful, French Revolution-inspired wallpaper.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2025

To the left of the hall on the way to the bedrooms is the guest powder room.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 22, 2023

So during the powder room fight scene in the finale, you never did a take where you kissed at the end?

From New York Times • May 29, 2023

Seconds later, half a dozen women came screaming out of the powder room, skirts clutched frantically around their legs.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes