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gentlemen's room

gentlemen's room

1 3.2
A room with toilets for men
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛntəlmənz ruːm/
  • Archaic
translation icon : aseo
  • He excused himself to visit the gentlemen's room before the meeting started.

Examples

  • After lunch, I went to the gentlemen's room to freshen up before the afternoon session.

  • This is gentleman's room.

  • When I worked at the Benedick... I was in charge of cleaning the gentlemen's rooms.

  • At the event, the gentlemen's room was located on the second floor for the guests.

Synonyms

restroom
vsgentlemen's room
  • US
133 1.0

A public room with toilets and sinks for people to use

is restricted to male users rather than being open to all genders
men's room
vsgentlemen's room
  • US
78 1.2

A room with toilets and sinks for men to use

is specifically intended only for male users rather than all people
convenience
vsgentlemen's room
  • UK
49 2.8

A public room with a toilet for people to use

is a similar facility but set aside only for male users rather than open access
washroom
vsgentlemen's room
  • Canadian
20 1.0

A room with toilets and sinks, often in a public building

is limited to male users rather than serving all visitors regardless of gender
public toilet
vsgentlemen's room
  • UK
7 1.0

A room with toilets and sinks that anyone can use in public places

is the same facility type but reserved solely for male users rather than all people
little boys' room
vsgentlemen's room
  • Informal
3 7.7

An informal name for a bathroom for men or boys

is a straightforward room intended just for male users rather than playful language
water closet
vsgentlemen's room
  • Archaic
3 6.1

A small room with a toilet for people to use

is modernly used to mean a room only for male users rather than neutral terms
lav
vsgentlemen's room
  • UK
3 8.4

A room with a toilet and sink

is a formal designated space intended solely for male users rather than casual naming
toilet facility
vsgentlemen's room
2 1.2

A room or building with toilets for public use

is a version of that space set aside only for male users rather than general use
comfort station
vsgentlemen's room
  • Archaic
1 3.2

A public toilet for people to use

is the same kind of facility but designated exclusively for male users rather than all visitors
toilet room
vsgentlemen's room
  • UK
1 1.0

A small room with a toilet for people to use

is the same kind of room but specifically designated for male users rather than mixed use
men's
vsgentlemen's room
  • US
1.0

A public toilet for men

is specifically intended only for male users rather than all people
W.C.
vsgentlemen's room
  • UK
4.5

A small room with a toilet in public places

is a gendered room meant only for male users rather than a neutral compartment
wash room
vsgentlemen's room
  • Canadian
1.0

A public room with toilets and sinks for cleaning hands

is reserved for male users rather than for any person needing facilities
public convenience
vsgentlemen's room
  • UK
2.7

A toilet in a public place that anyone can use

is a public facility that is specifically for male users rather than for everyone
smallest room
vsgentlemen's room
  • Informal
7.3

A small private room for using the toilet

is a specific, literal room intended only for male users rather than a joking phrase

Surface Forms

Morphology

gentlemen's + room

The meaning is directly compositional: 'gentlemen's' signals possession/association with men and 'room' denotes an indoor space, so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a room intended for men (commonly a men's restroom). This possessive noun + room pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows regular English composition, making it immediately understandable to B1 learners.

Etymology

The noun gentlemen's room comes from old public places that put the polite word gentlemen's on the room door to show it was for men. That's why it now means 'a room with toilet facilities for men'.