urinal

[yoor-uh-nl]

noun

1. a flushable wall fixture, as in a public lavatory, used by men for urinating.

2. a building or enclosure containing such fixtures.

3. a receptacle to receive the urine of a person with urinary incontinence or that of a bedridden person.

urinal

/ ˈjʊərɪ-, jʊˈraɪnəl /

noun

1. a sanitary fitting, esp one fixed to a wall, used by men for urination

2. a room containing urinals

3. any vessel for holding urine prior to its disposal

Word History and Origins

Origin of urinal¹

1225–75; Middle English < Old French < Late Latin ūrīnāle, neuter of ūrīnalis of urine. See urine, -al ²

Example Sentences

The crews were never told what they were building, or why it needed so many urinals, but it was obviously some kind of bomb shelter.

Read more on Literature

The piece proved an immediate hit, with critics comparing it to ready-made master Marcel Duchamp’s 1917 porcelain urinal, “Fountain.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Sometimes you get a message saying, 'Oh, hi, I just saw you at the urinal,'" he laughs.

Read more on BBC

If there is a Big Brother element to this, then what about 'smart urinals' which offer instant analysis around hydration.

Read more on BBC

Each of the units, known as Thrones, includes a toilet, an urinal and a sink with an ADA-accessible ramp.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• latrine 
• lavatory 
• men's room 
• outhouse 
• toilet