Lavatory vs. Toilet — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 14, 2023
Lavatory often refers to a room or facility where people wash their hands and face, while a toilet primarily denotes a fixture for defecation and urination or a room containing it.
Difference Between Lavatory and Toilet
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Key Differences
Lavatory, in many contexts, is synonymous with a washroom or bathroom – a place equipped with facilities for washing hands and face. It's a term that emphasizes cleanliness and personal grooming. On the other hand, the term "toilet" focuses on the specific fixture used for defecation and urination or the small room where this fixture is found.
In aviation and certain formal contexts, "lavatory" is often used to refer to the restroom facilities, highlighting the provision for washing and minimal personal grooming during flights. Meanwhile, "toilet" might be directly interpreted as the porcelain bowl and seat, an essential feature of restrooms in homes, public spaces, and businesses.
Lavatory, originating from the Latin word "lavare," means "to wash," which gives a clear indication of its association with washing and cleanliness. Toilet, however, has a more complex etymology, deriving from the French "toilette," meaning "a cloth, bag, etc., on which articles of dress are laid," eventually referring to the act of dressing, and later, to the facilities related to personal care.
In the U.S., "bathroom" or "restroom" are common terms for public facilities, with both lavatory and toilet being understood, but "toilet" is more direct. In the U.K., "toilet" can refer to both the fixture and the room, while "lavatory" might be perceived as slightly more formal.
Lavatory and toilet are terms that might be used interchangeably in some contexts. However, their distinctions become apparent in specific situations or regions, emphasizing either the washing aspect or the sanitary facility itself.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Room or facility for washing hands and face.
Fixture for defecation and urination or the room containing it.
Etymology
Derived from Latin "lavare," meaning "to wash."
Comes from French "toilette," relating to dressing and personal grooming.
Formal Usage
Often used in aviation and some formal contexts.
Common term for both the fixture and the room in many regions.
Emphasis
Cleanliness and personal grooming.
Sanitary functions.
Common Use in Regions
Might be perceived as more formal in the U.K.
Directly understood as the sanitary fixture or room in the U.S. and U.K.
Compare with Definitions
Lavatory
A room with facilities for washing hands and face.
The school renovated its lavatories over the summer.
Toilet
A bathroom or restroom in general.
Could you direct me to the nearest toilet?
Lavatory
A formal term for restroom facilities.
On the plane, she waited in line to use the lavatory.
Toilet
A facility for personal sanitary needs.
The train has a toilet at the end of each carriage.
Lavatory
A polite term for a public restroom.
The restaurant's lavatory was impressively clean and well-maintained.
Toilet
A toilet is a piece of sanitary hardware that collects human urine and feces, and sometimes toilet paper, usually for disposal. Flush toilets use water, while dry or non-flush toilets do not.
Lavatory
A room, building, or cubicle containing a toilet or toilets
He locked himself in the downstairs lavatory
Public lavatories
Toilet
A fixed receptacle into which a person may urinate or defecate, typically consisting of a large bowl connected to a system for flushing away the waste into a sewer
Liz heard the toilet flush
A toilet seat
He got up to go to the toilet
Lavatory
A room equipped with washing and often toilet facilities; a bathroom.
Toilet
The process of washing oneself, dressing, and attending to one's appearance
Her toilet completed, she finally went back downstairs
Lavatory
A washbowl or basin, especially one permanently installed with running water.
Toilet
Assist or supervise (someone, especially an infant or invalid) in using a toilet.
Lavatory
A flush toilet.
Toilet
An apparatus for defecation and urination, usually consisting of a bowl fitted with a hinged seat and connected to a waste pipe and a flushing apparatus.
Lavatory
A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly:
Toilet
A room or booth containing such an apparatus.
Lavatory
A laver: a washbasin.
Toilet
The act or process of dressing or grooming oneself.
Lavatory
(archaic) A bathtub.
Toilet
Dress; attire; costume.
Lavatory
(Christianity) A piscina: the basin used for washing communion vessels.
Toilet
The cleansing of a body area as part of a surgical or medical procedure.
Lavatory
(Christianity) A lavabo: the basin used for washing one's hands before handling the Eucharist.
Toilet
(Archaic) A dressing table.
Lavatory
A baptismal font: the basin used for baptism, used figuratively for the washing away of sins.
Toilet
A room or enclosed area containing a fixture used for urination and defecation (i.e. a toilet (sense 2)): a bathroom or water closet.
Sorry, I was in the toilet.
Lavatory
(construction, interior design) A plumbing fixture used for washing: a sink.
Their 'bathroom' included a toilet and a lavatory but no bath.
Toilet
A fixture used for urination and defecation, particularly one with a large bowl and ring-shaped seat which uses water to flush the waste material into a septic tank or sewer system.
My toilet backed up. Now the bathroom's flooded.
Lavatory
Handwashing as an act, particularly
Toilet
(figuratively) A very shabby or dirty place.
Lavatory
(Christianity) The lavabo: the ritual washing of hands before handling the eucharist.
Toilet
(NZ) A small secondary lavatory having a fixture used for urination and defecation (i.e. a toilet (sense 2)) and sink but no bathtub or shower.toilet
Lavatory
(Christianity) The ritual washing of hands after using the piscina to clean the communion vessels.
Toilet
(obsolete) A covering of linen, silk, or tapestry, spread over a dressing table in a chamber or dressing room.
Lavatory
(obsolete) A liquid used in washing; a lotion; a wash; a rinse.
Toilet
(obsolete) The table covered by such a cloth; a dressing table.
Lavatory
(dated) A washroom: a room used for washing the face and hands.
Toilet
Personal grooming; the process of washing, dressing and arranging the hair.
Lavatory
(euphemism) A room containing a toilet: a bathroom US or WC UK.
Americans don't know 'WC' and Brits mock 'bathroom' but everyone usually understands 'toilet' or 'lavatory'.
Toilet
One's style of dressing: dress, outfit.
Lavatory
A plumbing fixture for urination and defecation: a toilet.
Toilet
(archaic) A dressing room.
Lavatory
(dated) A place to wash clothes: a laundry.
Toilet
(obsolete) A chamber pot.
Lavatory
(obsolete) A place where gold is panned.
Toilet
(dated) To dress and groom oneself.
Lavatory
(obsolete) A paved room in a mortuary where corpses are kept under a shower of disinfecting fluid.
Toilet
To use the toilet.
Lavatory
(dated) Washing, or cleansing by washing.
Toilet
To assist another (a child, etc.) in using the toilet.
Lavatory
Washing, or cleansing by washing.
Toilet
A covering of linen, silk, or tapestry, spread over a table in a chamber or a dressing room.
Lavatory
A place for washing.
Toilet
A dressing table.
Lavatory
A basin or other vessel for washing in.
Toilet
Act or mode of dressing, or that which is arranged in dressing; attire; dress; as, her toilet is perfect.
Lavatory
A wash or lotion for a diseased part.
Toilet
A room equipped with toilet facilities
Lavatory
A place where gold is obtained by washing.
Toilet
A plumbing fixture for defecation and urination
Lavatory
A room containing one or more sinks for washing, as well as one or more toilet fixtures; also called bathroom, toilet, and sometimes commode. Commode and toilet may refer to a room with only a toilet fixture, but without a sink.
Toilet
Misfortune resulting in lost effort or money;
His career was in the gutter
All that work went down the sewer
Pensions are in the toilet
Lavatory
A room equipped with toilet facilities
Toilet
The act of dressing and preparing yourself;
He made his morning toilet and went to breakfast
Lavatory
A bathroom or lavatory sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you wash your hands and face;
He ran some water in the basin and splashed it on his face
Toilet
A fixture used for defecation and urination.
The plumber fixed the leak in the toilet.
Lavatory
A toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it
Toilet
A room containing a bowl and flushing mechanism.
The downstairs toilet is out of order.
Lavatory
A washbasin or sink found in a bathroom.
He quickly rinsed his face in the lavatory before the meeting.
Toilet
An act or process of dressing and grooming.
She performed her morning toilet swiftly.
Lavatory
A facility for personal grooming and cleanliness.
The public lavatory also had mirrors and soap for visitors.
Common Curiosities
How is "lavatory" commonly used in aviation?
In aviation, "lavatory" often refers to the restroom facilities on an aircraft.
Which term is more direct in referring to a sanitary fixture?
The term "toilet" is more direct in referring to a sanitary fixture.
What is the primary use of a toilet?
The primary use of a toilet is for defecation and urination.
Which term might be perceived as more formal in the U.K.?
In the U.K., "lavatory" might be perceived as slightly more formal.
How did "toilet" come to be associated with sanitary facilities?
"Toilet" originally referred to dressing and personal grooming, and over time, its meaning shifted to facilities related to personal care.
Which term emphasizes cleanliness and personal grooming?
Lavatory emphasizes cleanliness and personal grooming.
Can "toilet" refer to the act of dressing?
Historically, "toilet" referred to the act of dressing and grooming, but this usage is now less common.
Is a lavatory always equipped with a toilet fixture?
No, a lavatory may just be a room for washing hands and face without a toilet fixture.
Can "lavatory" and "toilet" be used interchangeably?
In some contexts, they can be used interchangeably, but they have distinct primary meanings.
In the U.S., which term is commonly used for public facilities?
In the U.S., "bathroom" or "restroom" are common terms, but "toilet" directly refers to the sanitary fixture or room.
From which language does "toilet" derive?
"Toilet" derives from the French word "toilette."
What is a common term for "toilet" in British English?
In British English, "loo" is a common informal term for "toilet."
What is the Latin origin of "lavatory" and what does it mean?
"Lavatory" originates from the Latin word "lavare," meaning "to wash."
How does the meaning of "lavatory" change in different contexts?
While "lavatory" generally refers to washing facilities, in specific contexts like aviation, it can mean restroom facilities.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
