dormitory
Dormitory (noun) means a large room or building with many beds, used for communal sleeping, especially by students. Example: “She spent her first year of university living in a noisy dormitory.”
How to use dormitory
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shared sleeping space, usually in a school, hostel, or college — or, for a town, a place people just sleep in and commute from.
In the US, "dorm" almost always means individual college housing; in the UK, "dormitory" can also describe a whole town built mainly for commuters.
Word forms
dormitories plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She spent her first year of university living in a noisy _____.
Etymology
From Latin dormitorium, "a sleeping room," from dormire, "to sleep."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for dormitory
See all rhymes for dormitory →Frequently asked questions
What does “dormitory” mean?
The word “dormitory” means a large room or building with many beds, used for communal sleeping, especially by students. In plain terms, a shared sleeping space, usually in a school, hostel, or college — or, for a town, a place people just sleep in and commute from.
How do you pronounce “dormitory”?
“Dormitory” is pronounced DAW-mih-tree (/ˈdɔɹ.mɪˌtɔɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “dormitory” in a sentence?
Here is “dormitory” used in a sentence: “She spent her first year of university living in a noisy dormitory.”
What part of speech is “dormitory”?
“Dormitory” is a noun.
Where does the word “dormitory” come from?
The word “dormitory” comes from Latin. From Latin dormitorium, "a sleeping room," from dormire, "to sleep.".
Is “dormitory” a common word?
“Dormitory” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “dormitory” have?
“Dormitory” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large room or building with many beds, used for communal sleeping, especially by students.