lavatory

Everyday

1. A lavatory is a toilet: the bowl you use to get rid of waste from your body. tree →
2. A lavatory is a room or small building with a toilet in it. tree →
3. It is a polite and slightly formal or old-fashioned word, used on signs, in planes and trains. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life it appears on signs in planes, trains and public buildings; people use it as a polite word instead of «toilet». Many other words exist: loo (UK, informal), bathroom and restroom (US), dunny (Australia, slang), toilet. Phrases: public lavatory, go to the lavatory, lavatory paper.

Examples

• Excuse me, where is the lavatory? tree →
• The lavatory on the train was out of order. tree →
• Please wash your hands after using the lavatory. tree →
• The aeroplane has two lavatories at the back. tree →
• There's a public lavatory next to the park. tree →
• Grandma always calls the toilet «the lavatory». tree →
• The sign said: «Lavatory occupied». tree →

Note

Countable: a lavatory, lavatories (y → ies). Say: LAV-a-tor-ee. It is a polite word, often a euphemism for «toilet». Short informal forms: lav, lavvy (UK). Americans more often say «bathroom» or «restroom». Do not confuse with «laboratory» (a science lab).