commode

noun

com·​mode kə-ˈmōd 

1

a

: a low chest of drawers

b

: a boxlike structure holding a chamber pot under an open seat

also : chamber pot

c

: toilet sense 1a

d

: a movable washstand with a cupboard underneath

2

: a woman's ornate cap popular in the late 17th and early 18th centuries

Illustration of commode

• commode 2

Examples of commode in a Sentence

There are towels in the cabinet above the commode.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Associated Press reported this week that a second man, Michael Jones, has been convicted for his role in the burglary of the 215-pound gilded commode, which authorities have yet to recover. Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary in the Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday, according to the AP. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025

Unfortunately, snakes slithering into commodes is not uncommon. —Kelli Bender, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025

One technique involved emptying the water from the toilets in their cells, then shouting through the commode, where they could be heard by other inmates. —Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025

For example, the last couture collection of late German designer Karl Lagerfeld is reminiscent of a blue and white lacquered commode from the 18th century, Gabet tells Vogue. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from commode, adjective, suitable, convenient, from Latin commodus, from com- + modus measure — more at mete

First Known Use

circa 1688, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for commode

• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• corrode
• crossroad
• decode

Kids Definition

commode

noun

com·​mode kə-ˈmōd 

1

a

: a low chest of drawers

b

: a movable washstand with a cupboard underneath

2

: toilet sense 2b