commode

American  

[kuh-mohd] / kəˈmoʊd /

noun

1. a low cabinet or similar piece of furniture, often highly ornamental, containing drawers or shelves.

2. a stand or cupboard containing a chamber pot or washbasin.

3. toilet.

4. a portable toilet, especially one on a chairlike frame with wheels, as for an invalid.

5. an elaborate headdress consisting chiefly of a high framework decorated with lace, ribbons, etc., worn perched on top of the hair by women in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

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commode British  

/ kəˈməʊd /

noun

1. a piece of furniture, usually highly ornamented, containing drawers or shelves

2. a bedside table with a cabinet below for a chamber pot or washbasin

3. a movable piece of furniture, sometimes in the form of a chair, with a hinged flap concealing a chamber pot

4. a woman's high-tiered headdress of lace, worn in the late 17th century

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Etymology

Origin of commode

First recorded in 1680–90; from French, from Latin commodus “convenient, fitting, suitable”; equivalent to com- + mode ¹

Example Sentences

I mean, let’s face it, we don’t put ADA-required rails on every commode in every bathroom.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

This week, Personal Tech columnist Nicole Nguyen writes about a $599 smart toilet camera that aims to unlock the mysteries of what lands in the commode.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

There's a commode in her living room until she can get a downstairs toilet, and wall rails have had to be fitted to help her move about.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2025

Gonzalez said Medi-Cal determined the chair, which can cost more than $1,000, was “a luxury” item that they did not need — but that they qualified for a commode.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2024

I watched her take a seat on the commode, how her belly dropped down between her legs.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

Related Words

• dresser