bathroom
bathroom
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "bathroom" is /ˈbæθruːm/.
First Syllable (/ˈbæθ/):
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/θ/ - voiceless dental fricative
Second Syllable (/ruːm/):
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/uː/ - close back rounded vowel
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: bathroom
Plural Noun: bathrooms
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
NOUN
A room, typically in a house or other building, equipped with a toilet, a sink (basin), and often a bathtub or shower, primarily used for personal hygiene and waste elimination.
Synonyms: lavatory, washroom, restroom, WC (water closet), loo (informal, British), john (informal, North American)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as it refers to a specific type of room)
(Figurative, often in sports) A situation or area that is easily dominated or controlled, suggesting a lack of challenge or resistance.
Synonyms: cakewalk, pushover, cinch, walkover
Antonyms: uphill battle, challenge, struggle, contest
Examples of Use
Books:
"Harry raced up the stairs, two at a time, and burst into the bathroom, splashing water on his face to wake himself up." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
"She found him in the bathroom, staring at his reflection in the steamed-up mirror, a towel wrapped around his waist." (Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl)
Newspapers:
"The Nairobi County Assembly approved a new measure today requiring all public buildings to provide accessible bathrooms for persons with disabilities." (Daily Nation,2025)
"A plumbing issue caused significant flooding in the school's main bathroom this morning, leading to an early dismissal." (The Standard,2025)
Online Publications:
"Small bathroom ideas that maximize space: From clever storage solutions to smart layout designs, we've got you covered." (Architectural Digest Online, 'Small Bathroom Ideas')
"Are smart bathrooms the future? We review the latest high-tech toilets and showers hitting the market." (TechCrunch, 'Smart Home Innovations')
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Dialogue) "Just give me five minutes in the bathroom, I need to fix my hair." (Mean Girls, 2004)
Television Series: (Scene description) "The detective found a crucial piece of evidence hidden behind the mirror in the victim's bathroom." (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Season 8, Episode 3)
Song Lyrics: "I've been in the bathroom for so long, trying to figure out where I went wrong." (Original lyrics, artist uncredited)
Video Game (e.g., The Sims): (In-game object description) "A standard family bathroom fixture, essential for hygiene needs."
Podcast: "In this episode, we discuss the surprisingly complex history of the modern bathroom and its evolution." (Stuff You Should Know, 'The History of the Bathroom')
General Public Discourse:
"Excuse me, could you tell me where the nearest bathroom is?" (Common question asked by someone looking for facilities)
"We're renovating our house next year, and the first thing we're doing is completely redoing the master bathroom." (Conversation between homeowners)
"My cat always waits for me outside the bathroom door." (Casual remark by a pet owner)
"There's a line for the bathroom again, I should have gone before the show started." (Comment at a concert or event)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bathroom
"There are two classes of travel, first class and with children. If you want to know what it's like to travel with children, just imagine a normal life where you have no bathroom breaks." (Attributed to various comedians and travel writers, but often paraphrased from experiences)
"The first rule of any self-respecting household: the bathroom is sacred." (Often said in general public discourse, emphasizing privacy)
"I always carry a book into the bathroom. It's the only place I can guarantee I'll get uninterrupted reading time." (Common sentiment expressed by avid readers)
"Home is where the heart is, and a clean bathroom is where the peace is." (Popular humorous saying)
"Every morning, the mirror in the bathroom shows me a new person. Sometimes I like what I see, sometimes I don't." (Reflective sentiment, often found in personal essays or journals)
"You can tell a lot about a person by the state of their bathroom." (Widely held belief in popular culture)
"Life is like a public bathroom—you don't always know what you're going to find, and it's best to be prepared." (Humorous and metaphorical saying)
"My favorite room in the house is definitely the bathroom. It’s my sanctuary." (Common sentiment among homeowners)
"A good host always ensures their guest bathroom is immaculate." (A common adage regarding hospitality)
"The lavatory is where all true thoughts are processed." (A more formal or literary take on the idea, using a synonym for "bathroom," often found in older literature or philosophical musings)
Etymology
The word "bathroom" is quite straightforward in its origins! It's a compound word, meaning it's made up of two simpler words: "bath" and "room."
"Bath" comes from the Old English word "bæð," which meant an immersion of the body in water. Think of the act of washing or soaking.
"Room" comes from the Old English word "rum," meaning a space or an extent. Over time, it came to mean a distinct chamber or division within a building.
So, when you put them together, "bathroom" literally meant a "room for bathing."
The earliest known use of the noun "bathroom" can be traced back to the late 1600s, specifically 1685, in the writings of Edward Browne, a physician and traveler. At that time, its meaning was exactly what it sounds like: a room specifically designed and equipped for bathing. This was when the idea of having a dedicated space for personal hygiene within a home was starting to become more common, especially among wealthier households.
Over time, particularly in the 20th century in American English, "bathroom" became a polite way to refer to a room that also contained a toilet, even if it didn't have a bathtub or shower. This was a way of using a softer, more indirect term for the place where people relieved themselves, as discussions about bodily functions were considered impolite. This is why sometimes, especially in the US, you might hear someone say "bathroom" even if they're referring to a small room with just a toilet and sink.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bathroom
"Bathroom break": A short interval of time taken to use the toilet facilities.
"Bathroom humor": Crude or vulgar jokes relating to bodily functions, typically associated with toilets and bodily waste.
"To run for the bathroom": To rush quickly to the bathroom, often due to an urgent need.
"To hit the bathroom": To go to the bathroom.
"Bathroom singing": The act of singing loudly and often poorly in the bathroom, where the acoustics can make one's voice sound better.
"Bathroom essential": A product or item considered necessary for a bathroom (e.g., soap, towels).
"A bathroom sanctuary": Referring to the bathroom as a private, relaxing, and peaceful space.
"The lavatory call": A polite or slightly old-fashioned way of saying one needs to use the toilet.
"Powder my nose": (An idiom using a synonym's context) A euphemism, typically used by women, for going to the restroom.
"Excuse me, I need to visit the facilities": (Using a synonym) A polite way to state one needs to use the restroom.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bathroom from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
