restroom

American  

[rest- room, room] / ˈrɛstˌ rum, ˌrʊm /

Or rest room

noun

1. rooms or a room having a sink, toilet, and other facilities for use by employees, visitors, etc., as in a store, theater, or office.

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Etymology

Origin of restroom

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Compare meaning

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

• restroom vs. bathroom

Explanation

A restroom is a public bathroom or lavatory. You might stop at a fast food restaurant during a long drive to use the restroom and buy some fries. You'll find restrooms in restaurants, libraries, schools, highway rest areas, and shopping malls, among other places. Many restrooms are open to the public at large, while others are reserved for customers. While the term restroom is extremely common in the U.S., a restroom in Britain doesn't usually contain a toilet — it is simply a place to sit and rest. And in Canada, it's more often called a washroom.

Example Sentences

There are several ways germs can enter your body in a public restroom:

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

Whereupon one party member excused himself to go to the restroom.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

She went to a park in Pasadena recently and got worried after entering a restroom.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

The town's authorities report that tourists were "opening private home doors without permission to use the restroom," trespassing, littering and "defecating in private yards and raising a fuss when residents pointed this out".

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

He excused himself to go to the restroom.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Related Words

• bathroom
• lavatory
• sauna
• shower
• toilet