john

IPA/dʒɒn/
KK[dʒˈɑn]IPA/dʒɑːn/

john — noun

  • johnsingular
  • johnsplural

1. an informal word for a toilet or restroom.

1.nounB2
Definition

an informal word for a toilet or restroom.

Example

Mert asked where the john was before the movie started.

where the john was

At the bus station, Liang hurried to the john after the long ride.

hurried to the john

Common collocations
  • go to the john
  • use the john
  • where the john is
Synonyms
  • toilet

    the most direct everyday word for the object itself

  • restroom

    the more polite North American public-use term

  • bathroom

    common in everyday North American speech, even when no bath is involved

Grammar Patterns

go to the john

use the john

Usage Note

Mostly North American and informal. Speakers often use restroom or bathroom in more polite situations.

2. a man who pays a sex worker for sex.

2.nounC1
Definition

a man who pays a sex worker for sex.

Example

The detective photographed a john leaving the hotel after midnight.

a john leaving the hotel

After the raid, police questioned several johns outside the motel.

questioned several johns

Common collocations
  • a john leaves the hotel
  • question several johns
  • arrest johns in a sting
Synonyms
  • client

    a more neutral word that does not carry the same slang tone

  • customer

    broader and less marked, used when the slang term would sound too harsh

Grammar Patterns

a john + verb

question or arrest + johns

Usage Note

Often appears in news or police language and can sound harsh or judgmental. Distinguish from sense 1: this meaning refers to a male client, not a toilet.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For sense 1, john is a very informal American word for a toilet. Bathroom and restroom are the everyday polite choices in North America, especially when you ask where one is. Toilet is more direct and names the object itself, so it can sound blunt in some social situations. Lavatory is more formal and often appears on planes, in public notices, or in older British-style wording. John usually sounds casual, rough, comic, or slightly old-fashioned. If you are speaking to strangers, restroom or bathroom is safer; if you are reading dialogue, john often signals relaxed speech.

toilet ↗bathroom ↗restroom ↗lavatory ↗

Etymology

English

The toilet sense probably grew from older American slang such as johnny house, an informal name for an outdoor toilet. The personal name John later also became slang for a man who pays a sex worker. The two modern senses are both informal, but they belong to different social settings.

First known use

1906

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Noun (2)