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

"Hackney Council put a public convenience there. That's where the Banksy was painted - on the side of a little toilet block. "We've spoken to Hackney to try to find out exactly what happened.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2017

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

But the railroad keeps on running all the same; for the public convenience and welfare are the law of its life, and private peril and loss but an occasional episode.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 15, No. 88, February, 1865 by Various