Phrase guide

ladies' room

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A room belonging to or intended for some or all women, particularly

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A room belonging to or intended for some or all women

A waiting room in a railway station or other public building intended exclusively for women and usually including a separate women's lavatory.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A room belonging to or intended for some or all women

A public restroom intended for use by females.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a woman's restroom in a public (or semipublic) building

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: powder room

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: public toilet, comfort station, public convenience, convenience, public lavatory, restroom, toilet facility, wash room

History

Etymology

Originally in reference to any chamber or suite reserved for the use of women, whether public or private. Popularized by its use as a clipped form of ladies' waiting room in reference to gender-separated facilities at train stations, etc. Its use in reference to lavatories replaced other euphemisms including cloak room, lavatory room, toilet room, private room, etc.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: же́нска тоале́тна (žénska toalétna) — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Bulgarian: да́мска тоале́тна (dámska toalétna) — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Chinese Cantonese: 女廁 /女厕 (neoi5 ci3) — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Chinese Cantonese: 女界 (neoi5 gaai3) — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Chinese Mandarin: 女廁 /女厕 (nǚcè) — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Chinese Mandarin: 化妝室 /化妆室 (huàzhuāngshì) — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Finnish: naistenhuone — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • French: toilettes femmes — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • German: Damentoilette — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • German: Damenumkleideraum — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Hungarian: női vécé — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Hungarian: női WC — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Hungarian: női mosdó — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Polish: toaleta damska — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Romanian: toaletă feminină — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Russian: же́нская убо́рная (žénskaja ubórnaja) — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Russian: же́нский туале́т (žénskij tualét) — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Swedish: damtoalett — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Swedish: damernas — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet
  • Turkish: kadınlar tuvaleti — lavatory intended for women — see also toilet