What does watercooler mean?
A watercooler is an appliance or container that keeps drinking water cool and dispenses it, usually through a tap. It is commonly found in offices, workplaces, schools, and public facilities, where it provides a convenient alternative to a full refrigerator. The word has also developed a figurative meaning for informal conversations among colleagues, particularly conversations that occur while people gather around the device. In this sense, watercooler talk may involve workplace news, opinions, gossip, or unofficial debate. Such conversations can be dismissed as trivial, but they can also reveal social attitudes and influence how information spreads within an organization. The expression is informal in both British and American English and is commonly used in phrases such as “watercooler conversation” and “watercooler talk.” Although “watercooler” is normally written as one word, the two-word form “water cooler” is also widely understood and used.
nounA device or container that holds and dispenses cooled drinking water, usually through a tap. By extension, it means the informal workplace conversations that take place around such a device.
- An appliance or container that holds and dispenses cooled drinking water, typically through a tap.
- Informal conversations among coworkers, especially those occurring around the office watercooler.
"A group of colleagues gathered around the watercooler to compare notes."
"The new office watercooler dispenses chilled drinking water."
"A cluster of employees gathered at the watercooler to compare notes."
The standard plural is formed by adding -s to the complete noun.
"Two watercoolers were installed on different floors of the building."
Some of an office's most consequential conversations happen away from the meeting room.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of watercooler
The compound combines the Germanic word “water,” inherited through Old English wæter, with “cooler,” an agent noun formed from “cool.” It came into use for apparatus designed to keep drinking water cool and provide it conveniently. The figurative sense for informal workplace conversation developed later from the practice of employees gathering around a shared watercooler to chat.
Related word forms
How watercooler is actually used
The word is neutral when naming the appliance but informal when referring to workplace gossip or casual discussion. Expressions such as “watercooler talk” can imply that a subject is trivial or socially influential rather than formally important.
Easily confused with watercooler
A cooler is usually an insulated container for keeping food or drinks cold, whereas a watercooler is designed specifically to hold and dispense drinking water.