Phrase guide

powder room

noun · 5 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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1

noun

Meaning 1

Synonym of ladies' room: a lavatory intended for use by women.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic

Examples

  • If you'll excuse me, I need to visit the powder room to see a man about a dog.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: powder closet, bathroom, latrine, necessarium, toilet, toilet room, urinal, water closet, WC, cloaca, closet, jacques, kocay, siege, cludgie, neddy, netty, shield, six, facilities, ladies and gentlemen, lavatory, lavabo, necessary, necessary room, office, office of ease, place, potty, privy, small room, smallest room, throne room, cottage, geography, House of Lords, khazi, usual offices, restroom, teahouse, tearoom, washroom, comfort room, CR, closet of decency, closet of ease, house of office, necessary place, purging place, vault, withdraught, wardrobe, shitter, urination station, bog, carsey, crapper, karzy, lats, lav, lavvy, loo, thunderbox, can, john, johnny, bogger, brasco, dike, dunny, jacks, jakes, ladies' room

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Synonym of half bath: a small room with a toilet and sink but no bathtub or shower.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: half bath

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A room used to store gunpowder, particularly (historical) on a ship equipped with cannon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Are you insane? Don't take a candle into the powder room!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: powder magazine

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A room used to powder hair and wigs.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

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: ladies' room

Antonyms: none provided

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

History

Etymology

In reference to lavatories, an indirection developed under the influence of powder one's nose, a euphemism for using a toilet. Compare boudoir.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: дамска тоалетна (damska toaletna) — ladies room
  • Chinese Mandarin: 化妝室 /化妆室 (huàzhuāngshì) — ladies room
  • German: Toilette — ladies room
  • German: Badezimmer — ladies room
  • Polish: toaleta damska — ladies room
  • French: sainte-barbe — room to store powder
  • German: Pulverkammer — room to store powder
  • Hungarian: lőporraktár — room to store powder
  • Hungarian: lőportár — room to store powder
  • Polish: prochownia — room to store powder