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

Matron’s flat was just off the main dormitory wing. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025

The 77,000-square-foot detention center built in 2018 was expanded this year to include interrogation rooms, 30 detention cells, and dormitories for 550 staff members. —George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024

The city constructed the dormitories at Floyd Bennett Field despite protests and criticism that the location was unsuitable and isolated. —Luis Ferré-Sadurní, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024

Hundreds of workers from the Indian city of Cooch Behar lug steel girders into the concrete shells of what will be dormitories, as a leaf blower removes detritus from an artificial-turf soccer pitch. —By Charlie Campbell/gelephu, Bhutan, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025

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

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