toilet

1 of 2

noun

toi·​let ˈtȯi-lət 

1

a

: a fixture that consists usually of a water-flushed bowl and seat and is used for defecation and urination

b(1)

: bathroom, lavatory sense 2

(2)

: privy sense 1a

2

: the act or process of dressing and grooming oneself

3

: cleansing in preparation for or in association with a medical or surgical procedure

pulmonary toilet

4

archaic : dressing table

toilet

2 of 2

verb

toileted; toileting; toilets

intransitive verb

1

: to dress and groom oneself

2

: to use the toilet

—usually used of a child

transitive verb

1

: dress, garb

2

: to help (someone, such as a child or sick person) use the toilet

Synonyms

Noun

• bath
• bathroom
• bog [British]
• can
• cloakroom [British]
• comfort station
• convenience [chiefly British]
• head
• john
• latrine
• lavatory
• loo [chiefly British]
• potty
• restroom
• washroom
• water closet

Verb

• apparel
• array
• attire
• bedeck
• caparison
• clothe
• costume
• deck (out)
• do up
• dress
• dress up
• enrobe
• garb
• garment
• get up
• gown
• habit
• invest
• rig (out)
• robe
• suit
• tog (up or out)
• vesture

Examples of toilet in a Sentence

Noun

One of the kids needed to use the toilet.

a painting of a woman at her toilet

Verb

the princess required at least a dozen maids to toilet her for formal occasions

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There were also concerns about plumbing since Brownstone had replaced a toilet in the basement with a shower stall, according to the notice issued by the Department of Building Inspections. —Shawna Chen, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024

If toilets aren’t subject to Coriolis forces, hair certainly isn’t either, Willems says. —Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024

Verb

Meanwhile, there are ways to reduce human exposure to toilet plumes. —John Crimaldi, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2022

There was the time the system that controls toilet flushing failed and water rained down on the fancy dining area and diners one floor below. —Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French toilette cloth on which items used for grooming are placed, from Middle French, piece of batiste, from diminutive of toile cloth

First Known Use

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1828, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing toilet

• go to the toilet
• toilet bag
• toilet paper
• toilet powder
• toilet roll
• toilet soap
• toilet-trained
• toilet training
• toilet water

Kids Definition

toilet

noun

toi·​let

ˈtȯi-lət

1

: the act or process of dressing and making oneself neat

2

a

: bathroom

b

: a fixture that consists usually of a bowl that is flushed with water and a seat and is used for defecation and urination

Medical Definition

toilet

noun

toi·​let ˈtȯi-lət 

: cleansing in preparation for or in association with a medical or surgical procedure

a pharyngeal toilet