Gentlemen's

Alternative forms

• Gentlemen's

Origin

, originally a waiting room for men but by the first attestation of gentlemen's in general use as a euphemism for a men's lavatory.

Full definition of gentlemen's

Noun

1. Form of possessive case: belonging to some or all gentlemen.
2. (informal euphemism) Synonym of men's room: a lavatory intended for use by men.
• 1898, The Hotel/Motor Hotel Monthly, Vol. 6, page 27:A gents' toilet room might be found in a house that caters for the cheaper class of theatrical patronage, where the slangy language of the "goin' to the mat this aft?" style prevails. A gents toilet room is not found in the Southern Hotel. It either "men's" or "gentlemen's".

Synonyms

• See

Coordinate terms

• ladies'