dormitory

[ dawr-mi-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

noun

, plural dor·mi·to·ries.

1. a building, as at a college, containing a number of private or semiprivate rooms for residents, usually along with common bathroom facilities and recreation areas.
2. a room containing a number of beds and serving as communal sleeping quarters, as in an institution, fraternity house, or passenger ship.

dormitory

/ -trɪ; ˈdɔːmɪtərɪ /

noun

1. a large room, esp at a school or institution, containing several beds
2. a building, esp at a college or camp, providing living and sleeping accommodation
3. modifier denoting or relating to an area from which most of the residents commute to work (esp in the phrase dormitory suburb )

Word History and Origins

Origin of dormitory¹

1475–85; < Latin dormītōrium bedroom, equivalent to dormī ( re ) to sleep + -tōrium -tory ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of dormitory¹

C15: from Latin dormītōrium, from dormīre to sleep

Example Sentences

The floor of the dormitory, where the contestants sleep at night, has been divided in two.

From BBC

She believes in providing old-school hospitality at the former 14th Century monks' dormitory she has called home for more than 40 years, and where she lived with her husband Leo until his death in 2013.

From BBC

In 2022, a dormitory in western Kenya burnt down, with several students later arrested on suspicion of arson.

From BBC

Kenya's national gender and equality commission said in a statement that initial reports indicating the dormitory was overcrowded were "deeply concerning".

From BBC

In 2022, a dormitory in western Kenya burnt down, with several students later arrested on suspicion of arson.

From BBC

Related Words

• bedroom
• dorm
• dorm room