parlor

1 of 2

noun

par·​lor ˈpär-lər 

1

: a room used primarily for conversation or the reception of guests: such as

a

: a room in a private dwelling for the entertainment of guests

b

: a conference chamber or private reception room

c

: a room in an inn, hotel, or club for conversation or semiprivate uses

2

: any of various business places

a funeral parlor

a beauty parlor

parlor

2 of 2

adjective

1

: used in or suitable for a parlor

parlor furniture

2

a

: fostered or advocated in comfortable seclusion without consequent action or application to affairs

parlor bolshevism

b

: given to or characterized by fostering or advocating something (such as a doctrine) in such a manner

parlor socialist

Synonyms

Noun

• establishment
• joint
• place
• salon

Examples of parlor in a Sentence

Noun

an ice cream parlor with an old-timey theme

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The parlor, now the living room, was once again invaded by wares, thanks to the commercials that aired on yet another new device, the television. —Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024

The work that was done back then included the addition of a 1,000-square-foot wing holding a double-height parlor, as well as a study with a bedroom right above it. —Paola Singer, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Kyle Green [e-mail] Parlor bird cage at the Jones/Eld house in East Boise. —Anna Webb, idahostatesman, 14 Apr. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English parlour, parlur "room off a hall set aside for private conversation, room (as in a monastery) where speech is permitted," borrowed from Anglo-French parlur, parlour, from parler "to speak, talk" + -ur, -or (continental Old French -oir), going back to Latin -ōrius -ory entry 1 — more at parley entry 2

Adjective

from attributive use of parlor entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing parlor

• front parlor
• massage parlor
• parlor car
• parlor game
• parlor grand
• parlor trick
• tattoo parlor

Kids Definition

parlor

noun

par·​lor

ˈpär-lər

1

: a room in a home, hotel, or club used for conversation or the reception of guests

2

: any of various business places

funeral parlor

beauty parlor

Etymology

Noun

Middle English parlour "a room for receiving and talking with guests," from early French parlour (same meaning), from parler "to speak" — related to parley, parliament

Word Origin

In some monasteries during the Middle Ages, monks were not allowed to speak except when they were in a special room. Such a room was known in early French as a parlour. The word parlour comes from the French verb parler, which means "to speak." In the 13th century, parlour was borrowed into English as parlor. Eventually it acquired the meaning that it has today. Other English words that can be traced to the verb parler include parley and parliament.