fitting room
FIT-ing room
/ˈfɪtɪŋ ruːm/
A small room in a shop where you can put on clothes to see if they fit you.
While 'dressing room' is often used interchangeably, 'fitting room' specifically emphasizes the act of checking the fit of a garment.
The story behind the word. The term combines 'fitting' (from the Middle English 'fitten,' meaning to be suitable) and 'room.' It became a standard feature of shops in the late 19th century as ready-to-wear clothing became popular and customers demanded a private space to test the 'suitability' of garments before buying.
Word relationships
- dressing room: Commonly used in both retail and theater contexts.
- changing room: More common in sports facilities or public pools.
Commonly confused with
- locker room: A locker room is for storage and changing in a gym, while a fitting room is for trying on retail items.
Word family
- fitting rooms (noun): Plural form of fitting room.
Collocations
- communal fitting room
- fitting room attendant
- head to the fitting room
Example sentences
- "Excuse me, could you tell me where the fitting room is? I have several items I would like to try on." A customer asking for directions in a large department store.
- "Please limit the number of items taken into the fitting room to five at a time." A retail policy sign.
Memory hook
Think of the room where you ensure your clothes 'fit' like a glove. Fit in the room.
When not to use
Avoid using this for a room where people change for sports; use 'locker room' or 'changing room' instead.
Fun facts
- Some high-end fitting rooms now use 'smart mirrors' that can change the lighting to simulate different times of day.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.