lavatory

/ˈlæv.ə.tɹi/

//ˈlæv.ə.tɹi// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"lavatory" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“lavatory” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #32,892. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#32,892
frequency rank, English
2,297
“L” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly

Corpus desk

Index EN-lavatory · lavatory · English

lavatory · rank #32,892 · 12 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #32,892
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-MID 12 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,297
  • PHOTO-FINISH larceny

Nearest frequency peer: larceny (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “lavatory”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “lavatory” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for lavatory
PropertyValue
Headwordlavatory
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈlæv.ə.tɹi/
Letters8
Frequency rank#32,892
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “lavatory”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).lavatorylands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “larceny” (#32,891), “landlady” (#32,890), “Leavenworth” (#32,894). Among 2,297 “L” headwords, “lavatory” is #32,892. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around lavatory (IPA /ˈlæv.ə.tɹi/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #32,892 among 2,297 “L” headwords. Wiktionary lists 17 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for lavatory, with forms such as "alvatory", "laavtory", and "lavaotry". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English lavatorie, from Late Latin lavātōrium, from Latin lavāre (“to wash”) + -ium (forming places related to an activity). As a place to pan gold, via Spanish lavadero. Doublet of lavatorium and laver. See also lave. The correct English form is lavatory, spelled L-A-V-A-T-O-R-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly
  2. 2
    A vessel or fixture for washing
  3. 3
    A vessel or fixture for washing
  4. 4
    A vessel or fixture for washing
  5. 5
    A vessel or fixture for washing
  6. 6
    A vessel or fixture for washing
  7. 7
    A vessel or fixture for washing
  8. 8
    Handwashing as an act, particularly
  9. 9
    Handwashing as an act, particularly
  10. 10
    Handwashing as an act, particularly
  11. 11
    A liquid used in washing; a lotion; a wash; a rinse.
  12. 12
    A washroom: a room used for washing the face and hands.
  13. 13
    A room containing a toilet: a bathroom (US) or WC (UK).
  14. 14
    A plumbing fixture for urination and defecation: a toilet.
  15. 15
    A place to wash clothes: a laundry.
  16. 16
    A place where gold is panned.
  17. 17
    A paved room in a mortuary where corpses are kept under a shower of disinfecting fluid.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how lavatory appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Whon he haþ vsed he walkeþ riht To Lauatorie þer hit is diht For to wassche his hende.
  2. And thow shalt make a brasun lauatory with his foot to wasshe with.

Etymology

From Middle English lavatorie, from Late Latin lavātōrium, from Latin lavāre (“to wash”) + -ium (forming places related to an activity). As a place to pan gold, via Spanish lavadero. Doublet of lavatorium and laver. See also lave.

Synonyms

washbasinsinkbathroomtoilet

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • alvatory
  • laavtory
  • lavaotry
  • lavatorry
  • lavatoryy
  • lavatoyr
  • lavatroy
  • lavattory
  • lavtaory
  • lavvatory
  • llavatory
  • lvaatory

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of lavatory - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

alvatory2laavtory2lavaotry2lavatorry1lavatoryy1lavatoyr2lavatroy2lavattory1
Edit distance from "lavatory"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "lavatory"?
"lavatory" is spelled L-A-V-A-T-O-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlæv.ə.tɹi/.
What does "lavatory" mean?
As a noun, "lavatory" means: A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly
What are common misspellings of "lavatory"?
Common misspellings include "alvatory", "laavtory", "lavaotry", "lavatorry", "lavatoryy". The correct spelling is "lavatory".
How do you pronounce "lavatory"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "lavatory" is /ˈlæv.ə.tɹi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "lavatory"?
From Middle English lavatorie, from Late Latin lavātōrium, from Latin lavāre (“to wash”) + -ium (forming places related to an activity). As a place to pan gold, via Spanish lavadero. Doublet of lavatorium and laver. See also lave. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "lavatory", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

landlady#32,890lingered#32,897ketamine#32,883McKnight#32,915

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (12 here; floor ≥5).

metering12 variantsgroaning12 variantspatrolled12 variantsplatelet12 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list