Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of lady
"After finishing her coffee, she made her way to the ladies' room before leaving the café."
A ladies' room: a lavatory intended for use by women.
In plain English: Ladies is a polite way to refer to women or girls.
"The ladies were chatting happily at the coffee shop."
Usage: Use "ladies" only when referring to groups of women or female staff; it should never be used alone to mean a restroom. The correct term for a lavatory intended for women is "ladies' room."
The word "lavatory" originally referred to a toilet or bathroom before being adopted as a euphemism for a women's restroom. This usage emerged through the deliberate misspelling of "ladies'" room, similar in logic to how "gents" is used for men's restrooms.