Standard Lemma guide

laundromat

noun · 3 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈlɔːndɹəʊˌmæt/
  • UK: /ˈlɔːndɹəmæt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • cot-caught-merger: /ˈlɑn.dɹəˌmæt/
  • Australian: /ˈloːn.dɹə.mæt/
  • CMU ARPABET: L AO1 N D R AH0 M AE2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A self-service laundry facility with (traditionally) coin-operated (which now may use other per-load payment methods) washing machines, dryers, and sometimes ironing or pressing machines, open to the public for washing clothing and household cloth items.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, Canada, US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A money laundering operation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a self-service laundry (service mark Laundromat) where coin-operated washing machines are available to individual customers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: launderette

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: laundry

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewh3-der. Proto-Italic *lowō Latin lavo Latin lavareder. Latin lavandarium Latin lavandaria Old French lavanderiebor. Middle English lavendrie English laundry Proto-Indo-European *h2ewder.? Proto-Indo-European *sóder.? Proto-Indo-European *h2ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón)? Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) Proto-Indo-European *men- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *mn̥tós Proto-Hellenic *mətós Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτος (autómătos) Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτον (autómăton)der. Classical Latin automatum New Latin automaticusbor. English automatic blend English laundromat Blend of laundry + automatic. From Laundromat, (former) trademark (1940s) of Westinghouse Electric Corporation for its washing machines, coined by Westinghouse publicist George Edward Pendray.