# lavatory

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlæv.ə.tɹi/ · frequency rank #32,892

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

## Common misspellings (12)
`alvatory`, `laavtory`, `lavaotry`, `lavatorry`, `lavatoryy`, `lavatoyr`, `lavatroy`, `lavattory`, `lavtaory`, `lavvatory`, `llavatory`, `lvaatory`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lavatory