What does lav mean?
Lav is an informal, chiefly British English noun for a lavatory or toilet, especially the sort found in a workplace, school, restaurant, or other public building. It is normally pronounced /læv/, with the same vowel as the “a” in “have,” and it is normally used with “the.” The word has a blunt, practical tone rather than the more formal register of “restroom” or “facilities”; many speakers also regard it as slightly old-fashioned, while some Americans use it casually. Lav entered English in the early twentieth century as a clipping of the longer word “lavatory.” Its ultimate source is Latin lavare, “to wash,” through forms associated with washing or cleansing. The short form is useful because it is unmistakably informal without being as crude as some stronger terms for the same thing. It also illustrates how everyday speech often reduces a formal word to a concise label while preserving its original meaning.
nounAn informal word for a lavatory or toilet, especially one in a workplace, school, restaurant, or other public building.
- An informal term for a toilet or lavatory.
"He stepped out for a quick trip to the lav."
"The sign at the end of the corridor pointed to the lav."
"In informal speech, “I need to use the lav” means “I need to use the toilet.”"
The standard plural is lavs, though it is uncommon compared with lavatories or toilets.
"There are separate lavs for men and women."
A formal “lavatory” trimmed to one syllable, lav is a quintessentially brisk bit of British informal English.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lav come from?
Lav is an early-twentieth-century clipping of lavatory. Lavatory comes through Medieval Latin lavatorium, denoting a place for washing, from Latin lavare, “to wash.” The same Latin root also lies behind lavation, lavative, and the archaic English verb lave.
Related word forms
How lav is actually used
Informal and often slightly old-fashioned; it is especially common in British English, while speakers in the United States more often say restroom or bathroom.
Easily confused with lav
Lab is pronounced /læb/ and means an informal laboratory, whereas lav is pronounced /læv/ and means a toilet or lavatory.