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toilet tissue

toilet tissue

4 1.0
Soft thin paper used to clean yourself after using the toilet
  • noun
  • /ˈtɔɪlɪt ˈtɪʃu/
  • US
translation icon : papel higiénico
  • The store was out of toilet tissue, so I had to buy paper towels instead.
  • a roll of toilet tissue

Every day I'm going to be in there with handcuffs on and toilet tissue in my mouth.

Examples

  • Reminds me, I must get toilet tissue.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I had a small stockpile of toilet tissue under my sink once years ago.

    Blog text (33)
  • Eli reported they used an unusual amount of toilet tissue for a one-time pit stop.

    Academic text (2016)
  • You can wipe out the sink, pick up hair, toothpaste, or that bit of face powder you spilled with a damp paper towel or even a handful of toilet tissue.

    Blog text (16)
  • Sales in natural food stores of such household products as laundry detergents, dishwashing liquid, toilet tissue, and other cleaners totaled $50 million in 1999 and are growing by 22 to 29 percent per year, according to the San Francisco-based research firm SPINS.

    Academic text (2000)
  • I always keep a roll of toilet tissue in the bathroom for guests to use.

  • After using the toilet, I reached for some toilet tissue to clean myself.

Synonyms

toilet paper
vstoilet tissue
100 1.0

Soft thin paper for cleaning your bottom after you use the toilet

is the exact same basic item in everyday usage
toilet roll
vstoilet tissue
  • UK
2 1.0

A roll of soft paper for cleaning your bottom after using the toilet

refers to the paper itself, not specifically the rolled form
bathroom tissue
vstoilet tissue
  • US
1 1.0

Soft paper used to clean yourself after using the toilet

is the common plain expression rather than the polite form

How Absorbent

paper towel
66 1.0
pad
118 1.4
toilet tissue
  • US
4 1.0

Surface Forms

toilet tissue singular

Morphology

toilet + tissue

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'toilet' (relating to the toilet/use after toileting) with 'tissue' (thin disposable paper): together they denote paper used for toilet hygiene. This noun–noun compounding pattern (modifier indicating purpose/use) is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the compound.

Etymology

Toilet tissue comes from a simple picture: soft tissue kept in the toilet room for personal cleaning. That's why today toilet tissue means 'soft, thin paper used for cleaning oneself after using the toilet'.