parlor
B2Neutral, slightly formal in the domestic sense; specific/specialized in commercial contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A room in a private house or public building used for conversation, receiving guests, or as a specialized commercial establishment.
A business establishment for the provision of a specific service, often of a personal or indulgent nature (e.g., beauty, tattoo). More abstractly, a sphere or forum for discussion or activity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Historically denotes a formal sitting room. In modern American usage, the domestic sense is somewhat dated/archaic, while the commercial sense is productive and common. The 'sphere of activity' sense is found in set phrases.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK uses 'parlour', US uses 'parlor'. The domestic room sense ('sitting room') is now archaic in both, but slightly more persistent in UK historical/literary contexts. The commercial establishment sense is far more prevalent in US English (e.g., 'beauty parlor', 'ice cream parlor').
Connotations
UK: Often evokes Victorian era, formality, or traditional establishments (e.g., 'funeral parlour'). US: Strongly associated with service businesses; domestic use feels old-fashioned.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US English due to productive use in commercial compound nouns. In UK English, 'living room' or 'sitting room' have completely replaced the domestic sense; 'parlour' survives in fixed phrases and specific business names.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[ADJ] parlorparlor of [NOUN]in the parlorVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Parlor trick (a clever but superficial feat)”
- “Parlor game (a game played indoors)”
- “Parlor pink (a person who holds superficially socialist views)”
- “In the parlor (dated: receiving guests)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common in names of small service businesses (beauty parlor, nail parlor).
Academic
Rare; appears in historical, sociological, or literary studies discussing domestic spaces or commercial history.
Everyday
Understood but not common for domestic space; very common for specific types of shops/services in US English.
Technical
Not technical; used in hospitality/history contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- This word is not used as a verb.
American English
- This word is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- This word is not used as an adverb.
American English
- This word is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Parlour games were popular in the Edwardian era.
- She had a parlour maid to attend to guests.
American English
- Parlor games like charades are fun for families.
- The house featured original parlor doors.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We ate ice cream at the parlor.
- My grandmother's beauty parlor is on Main Street.
- In the old house, the parlor was only used for guests.
- The tattoo parlor required appointments and had a strict hygiene policy.
- Victorian parlours were often overcrowded with furniture and ornaments.
- The political debate descended into mere parlour rhetoric, devoid of actionable policy.
- The concept of the 'death parlor' in the dystopian novel served as a chilling critique of societal desensitization.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an old-fashioned PARLOR where people PARLEY (talk).
Conceptual Metaphor
A PARLOR IS A CONTAINER FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION OR SPECIALIZED ACTIVITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'парламент' (parliament). The domestic sense is close to 'гостиная', but it's archaic. The commercial sense has no direct single equivalent; use context: 'салон красоты' (beauty parlor), 'кафе-мороженое' (ice cream parlor).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'parlor' for a modern living room (sounds archaic). *'Let's meet in the parlor' (unless in a historical setting). Confusing 'parlor' with 'porch'.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'parlor' LEAST likely to be used in modern American English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic or historical for a domestic living space. 'Living room', 'sitting room', or 'lounge' are used instead.
They are often synonyms for beauty businesses. 'Salon' can sound slightly more upscale or modern. 'Parlor' is also used for ice cream, tattoo, and funeral homes, where 'salon' is less common.
It follows the common US English spelling pattern of dropping the 'u' in words derived from French ending in '-our' (e.g., color/colour, honor/honour).
Yes, metaphorically. Phrases like 'parlor politics' or 'parlor psychologist' describe activity that is amateurish, superficial, or conducted in a confined, safe setting.
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