public convenience

American  

[puhb-lik kuhn-veen-yuhns] / ˈpʌb lɪk kənˈvin yəns /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a restroom, especially at a large public place, as at a railroad station.

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public convenience British  

noun

1. a public lavatory, esp one in a public place

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Etymology

Origin of public convenience

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had allowed the company’s project to move forward in 2018 by granting PennEast a so-called certificate of public convenience and necessity, but lawsuits followed.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2021

There is a cult film by the Chinese director Fruit Chan called Public Toilet, about two guys who, without sexual overtones, just liked hanging out at a public convenience.

From The Guardian • May 3, 2017

The board decided that the pipeline met the requirements of Iowa law requiring it to “promote the public convenience and necessity.”

From Washington Times • Mar. 10, 2016

According to Google Trends, the expression "public convenience" is not often used these days, and then only in the UK and US.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2015

He has entirely excluded me from any share in his profits,—I who first suggested the plan; and therefore I am determined to undertake the business myself, and thus add to the public convenience.

From The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan by Morier, James