dormitory

noun

dor·​mi·​to·​ry ˈdȯr-mə-ˌtȯr-ē 

plural dormitories

1

: a room for sleeping

especially : a large room containing numerous beds

2

: a residence hall providing rooms for individuals or for groups usually without private baths

3

chiefly British : a residential community inhabited chiefly by commuters

Examples of dormitory in a Sentence

Guests at the camp can stay in private cabins or for a smaller fee in the dormitories.

Recent Examples on the Web

Neighbors in Berkeley delayed construction of a new UC dormitory for three years, claiming the students would create noise pollution. —Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026

Nataliia found a job in a dormitory, issuing bed linens to residents. —Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

The aging dormitory where Richards was once an inmate before turning his life around was emptied of prisoners three years ago, due to deteriorating physical conditions. —ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026

Their duties include maintaining student dormitories and preparing meals in campus dining halls. —Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin dormitorium, from dormire

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dormitory

• dormitory town

Rhymes for dormitory

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• category
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• excretory
• extempore
• feudatory
• gustatory

Kids Definition

dormitory

noun

dor·​mi·​to·​ry ˈdȯr-mə-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

plural dormitories

1

: a sleeping room especially for several people

2

: a residence hall having many sleeping rooms