wash room

1.0

A public room with toilets and sinks for cleaning hands

noun
/ˈwɔʃ ruːm/

Canadian

: aseo

May we remind you that the wash rooms are equipped with smoke detectors and smoke alarms.

Examples

After the long journey, she was relieved to find a clean wash room at the station.
The wash room is located at the end of the hall, near the main entrance.
The theater's wash rooms are regularly cleaned throughout the day.

Synonyms

bathroom

vswash room

∞ 1.0

A room in a house with a toilet, sink, and a bath or shower

is focused on public hand washing and toilets rather than bathing at home

toilet

vswash room

275 1.0

A small room with a bowl and sink where people go to pee or poo

applies when the emphasis is on public hand washing facilities and access

restroom

vswash room

133 1.0

A public room with toilets and sinks for people to use

puts equal stress on hand washing in public rooms

ladies' room

vswash room

76 1.0

A public toilet for women

is the neutral public room available to everyone regardless of gender

convenience

vswash room

49 2.8

A public room with a toilet for people to use

focuses on the fixtures for washing hands in a public room

washroom

vswash room

Canadian

20 1.0

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

is the same but written as two separate words

lavatory

vswash room

19 2.0

A room with a toilet and a sink for washing hands

emphasizes public availability and hand washing rather than private bathing

powder room

vswash room

18 2.8

A small bathroom for women in public places or for guests at home

is the general public room emphasizing hand washing facilities for all

public toilet

vswash room

7 1.0

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

stresses being a publicly available room equipped for hand washing

toilet facility

vswash room

2 1.2

A room or building with toilets for public use

is specifically about a public room equipped for hand washing

comfort station

vswash room

Archaic

1 3.2

A public toilet for people to use

is the general term for a public room with washing fixtures

toilet room

vswash room

1 1.0

A small room with a toilet for people to use

used when the focus is on public hand washing rather than bathing

gentlemen's room

vswash room

Archaic

1 3.2

A room with toilets for men

is the neutral public room open to all rather than gender specific

public lavatory

vswash room

2.0

A toilet in a public place that anyone can use

focuses on the room as public and equipped for washing hands

public convenience

vswash room

2.7

A toilet in a public place that anyone can use

highlights a public room fitted with hand washing facilities

W.C.

vswash room

4.5

A small room with a toilet in public places

is the general term for public rooms equipped with hand washing facilities

Surface Forms

wash room singular

washrooms plural

washroom singular

Morphology

wash + room

The meaning 'a room for washing/toilets' is directly and compositionally derived from 'wash' (to clean with water) + 'room' (an indoor space), so a learner who knows both words can infer it. This compound/phrase follows common English and cross-linguistic patterns (a room for washing), making it immediately comprehensible at B1.

Etymology

Wash room comes from the simple picture of a wash space inside a room: a small room with basins where people wash their hands and sometimes use a toilet. So it means 'a public room with toilets and places for washing'.