A1 noun Neutral #3,192 most common

dormitory

/ˈdɔːrmɪtɔːri/

A dormitory is a large building at a college or university where students live and sleep. It usually contains many individual rooms and shared areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I live in a small room in the university dormitory.

I stay in a building for students at the university.

2

The institution requires all first-year students to reside in a dormitory.

The school says new students must live in the campus building.

3

Are you going back to the dorm after class?

Are you going back to your student room after your lesson?

Word Family

Noun
dormitory
Adjective
dorm
Related
dorm
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Memory Tip

Think of the root 'dorm-' which is like 'dormir' (to sleep in Spanish or French). It is a place where many people sleep.

Quick Quiz

The university has a new _______ for five hundred students to live in.

Correct!

The correct answer is: dormitory

Examples

1

I live in a small room in the university dormitory.

everyday

I stay in a building for students at the university.

2

The institution requires all first-year students to reside in a dormitory.

formal

The school says new students must live in the campus building.

3

Are you going back to the dorm after class?

informal

Are you going back to your student room after your lesson?

4

The dormitory facilities were renovated to improve student living conditions.

academic

The student building was fixed to make living there better.

5

Our firm is managing the maintenance for the new student dormitory.

business

Our company looks after the repairs for the student building.

Word Family

Noun
dormitory
Adjective
dorm
Related
dorm

Common Collocations

university dormitory a student building at a university
dormitory room a room inside a dormitory
live in a dormitory to stay in a student building
dormitory life the experience of living in a dormitory
on-campus dormitory a dormitory located on the school grounds

Common Phrases

dormitory rules

the laws for living in the building

dormitory manager

the person in charge of the building

assigned a dormitory

given a specific building to live in

Often Confused With

dormitory vs hostel

A hostel is usually for travelers/backpackers for a short stay, while a dormitory is for students for a long time.

dormitory vs bedroom

A bedroom is a single room for sleeping; a dormitory is the entire building containing many rooms.

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Usage Notes

In North America, 'dorm' is the most common way to refer to a dormitory in daily conversation. In the UK, 'halls' or 'hall of residence' is more frequent.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often misspell it as 'dormatory'. Remember it ends in '-itory' like 'territory'.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the root 'dorm-' which is like 'dormir' (to sleep in Spanish or French). It is a place where many people sleep.

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin 'dormitorium', coming from the verb 'dormire' which means 'to sleep'.

Grammar Patterns

countable noun plural: dormitories often used as a noun adjunct (e.g., dormitory life)
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Cultural Context

In American culture, living in a dormitory is seen as a rite of passage for college students to gain independence.

Quick Quiz

The university has a new _______ for five hundred students to live in.

Correct!

The correct answer is: dormitory

More Education words

university

A1

A university is a high-level educational institution where students study for degrees and conduct academic research. It is a place people go after finishing secondary school to specialize in a specific subject.

classroom

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A classroom is a dedicated room in a school or college where students and teachers meet for lessons. It typically contains desks, chairs, and tools for learning like a whiteboard or computer.

science

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chemistry

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Chemistry is the branch of science that studies what things are made of and how they react with each other. It is also a common subject taught in schools and universities.

economics

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notebook

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pen

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