What does poolside mean?
Poolside means at or beside a swimming pool, and it can also name the area around the pool itself. As an adjective, it describes things located there: a poolside bar, chairs, restaurant, or terrace. As an adverb, it indicates that an activity takes place in that setting, as in “we sat poolside all afternoon.” As a noun, it refers more broadly to the poolside area, often with an atmosphere of leisure, relaxation, and holiday sociability. The word is widely used in British and American English, especially in descriptions of hotels, resorts, and holiday facilities. Although it most commonly refers to a swimming pool, “poolside” can also suggest a pool-like or leisure setting in advertising and informal speech.
Located at or beside a swimming pool.
"The hotel has a poolside restaurant and a small sun terrace."
Common in descriptions of hotels, resorts, and leisure facilities.
At or beside a swimming pool.
"They waited poolside while the children played in the water."
Often used informally to describe relaxing or holiday activity.
The area beside a swimming pool.
"Meet us at poolside in an hour."
More common in informal and travel contexts than in formal writing.
Poolside captures the relaxed atmosphere of holiday life: a place where the swimming pool is not just for swimming, but for unwinding.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of poolside
The word is a compound of “pool” and “side,” literally the side of a pool. Its use in the modern sense developed alongside the growth of organized swimming pools and resort culture. The compound follows the ordinary English pattern of joining a place or feature with “side,” as in “riverside” and “roadside.”
How poolside is actually used
Generally informal or neutral in everyday British and American English. It is especially common in descriptions of hotels, resorts, and holiday facilities.