Restroom

/ˈrest.ruːm/ noun

Definition

A bathroom or toilet facility, especially in a public building like a store or restaurant.

Etymology

American euphemism combining 'rest' and 'room,' coined in the early 1900s to avoid the word 'bathroom' or toilet; similar to British English 'WC' (water closet).

Kelly Says

Different countries use totally different words for the same place—'toilet,' 'loo,' 'WC,' 'restroom,' 'bathroom'—and it reveals that English speakers are embarrassed about bodily functions, so we invented fancy names instead of saying what it really is.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Restroom gendering reflects 20th-century assumptions about women's bodily privacy and propriety; segregation enforced gendered public spaces.

Inclusive Usage

Use 'restroom' neutrally or 'toilet facility.' Where relevant, provide gender-neutral or single-stall options.

Inclusive Alternatives

["toilet facility","bathroom","WC"]

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