foyer

noun

foy·​er ˈfȯi(-ə)r  ˈfȯi-ˌ(y)ā 

 also  ˈfwä-ˌyā

: an anteroom or lobby especially of a theater

also : an entrance hallway : vestibule

Synonyms

• hall
• lobby

Examples of foyer in a Sentence

theatergoers crowded the foyer during the play's intermission

leave your muddy boots in the foyer and come into the house

Recent Examples on the Web

Oak floors and intricate paneling throughout the residence start in the foyer, where a central staircase leads to the upper-floor bedroom. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2025

Behind the front door is a foyer, added in a recent renovation, and straight ahead is the combined living and dining area, where the ceilings are wood paneled and a Scandinavian-style gas stove sits before windows overlooking the deck. —Angela Serratore, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

Here’s a gracious one-bedroom in North Park Slope, close to the Park and Grand Army Plaza, with an elegant layout: a big foyer, with a large living room on one side, the bedroom on the other, and a kitchen in the middle. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 18 Feb. 2025

Sonia Agron stood in the foyer of her apartment in the Bronx on Sept. 12, 2001, waiting for news of her husband. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, fireplace, from Vulgar Latin *focarium, from Latin focus hearth

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for foyer

• oyer
• destroyer
• employer
• multiemployer

Kids Definition

foyer

noun

foy·​er ˈfȯi(-ə)r  ˈfȯi-ˌ(y)ā 

1

: a lobby especially in a theater

2

: an entrance hallway : vestibule