washroom - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

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From wash +‎ room in reference to its sinks, but generally used euphemistically outside of Canada and the United States.

washroom (plural washrooms)

  1. A room intended to wash the face and hands.
    • 1960 December, “New G.E. Line diesel loco maintenance depot at Stratford”, in Trains Illustrated, page 767:
      Bright, modern offices, washrooms and messrooms are located in the centre block.
  2. (Canada, Asia, rarely US, euphemistic) A room with a toilet, particularly a public toilet.

The term originated in the US but has been largely replaced by restroom except in certain regions of the country. It continues to be the most common word for a public facility in Canadian English, and is also commonly used in parts of Asia where English is prevalent such as Hong Kong, India, and Malaysia.