Meaning & use

parlor

noun·Academic

A room in a private house set aside for receiving visitors and everyday social conversation.

See it in a sentence

Guests were shown into the parlor while the host finished preparing tea.

The old ice cream parlor on Main Street has served the same sundaes for fifty years.

A note on using this word

Parlor is somewhat old-fashioned for a home room, but stays current in business names like 'beauty parlor' or 'funeral parlor'.

Words with a similar meaning

sitting roomliving room

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A shop or business offering a particular service, such as beauty treatments or ice cream.

She booked an appointment at the nail parlor around the corner.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “parlor”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.