water closet

noun

plural water closets
1
: a compartment or room with a toilet
Confronted with the cramped confines of a bathroom in a typical starter home—one of those spaces aptly described by the term water closet—homeowners may well entertain grand plans for expansion.Peter O. Whiteley
A private water closet opened off the sleeping area.Shirley Slater
abbreviation WC
2
: a toilet bowl and its accessories
I could see part of the tub and part of the water closet in the bathroom. The tub had claw and ball feet, and the water closet had a pull chain from the storage tank mounted up by the ceiling.Robert B. Parker
abbreviation WC

Examples of water closet in a Sentence

the first house in town to have an indoor water closet
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To the left of the foyer is an expansive first-floor primary suite with a large walk-in closet, access to a separate private deck and a palatial en suite with a whirlpool tub, double sinks, a walk-in shower and a separate water closet. Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 1 Dec. 2024 The primary suite is situated on the main level and has two closets, a spa-like bathroom, two vanities, and a water closet. Emma Reynolds, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024 Well, for the most luxurious (and separate) space of all, consider dual toilets—not toilets in the same space but separate water closets where each person has complete and total privacy. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2024 Primary bathrooms include twin vanities as well as dual water closets, underfloor heating and a striking hand-finished cast iron soaking tub. Roger Sands, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for water closet 

Word History

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of water closet was in 1736

Dictionary Entries Near water closet

Cite this Entry

“Water closet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20closet. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

water closet

noun
1
: a compartment or room with a toilet bowl
2
: a toilet bowl with its fixtures

More from Merriam-Webster on water closet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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