restroom
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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:
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“As someone who exercises every day, I also noticed that I did not have the energy to do that, and I would have to make frequent restroom visits.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
They had become separated because of the untimely need of a restroom visit, and with the help of the Secret Service he got to her quickly.
From Salon ● May 1, 2026
A Times reporter attending the dinner was forced to shelter in a restroom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026
There are several ways germs can enter your body in a public restroom:
From Science Daily ● Apr. 13, 2026
It was the main restroom, positioned right where the main hallway met the main staircase, and even on a normal day it was crowded.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Customers would instinctively have run away from the fire, towards the back where the restrooms were, Busakorn tells BBC Thai.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Buc-ee’s has a legion of loyal fans, who come for the Beaver Nuggets, sparkling restrooms and the novelty of its massive stores, where workers shout when they slice up steaming brisket.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Portable restrooms and hydration stations will be available.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026
If you're a parent or live with a condition that makes frequent bathroom trips unavoidable, you've likely figured out which public restrooms are usable and which ones to avoid.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 13, 2026
It’s on the side of the restrooms near the empty community pool.
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
