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” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #32,892 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#32,892
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly

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)

Where “lavatory” sits in English frequency

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

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

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for lavatory is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlæv.ə.tɹi/. Corpus data places it at rank #32,892 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 17 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

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.

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.

Using “lavatory”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is L-A-V-A-T-O-R-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈlæv.ə.tɹi/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

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

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list