foyer

noun

foy·​er ˈfȯi(-ə)r How to pronounce foyer (audio) ˈfȯi-ˌ(y)ā How to pronounce foyer (audio)
also ˈfwä-ˌyā
Synonyms of foyer
: an anteroom or lobby especially of a theater
also : an entrance hallway : vestibule

Synonyms of foyer

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Examples of foyer in a Sentence

theatergoers crowded the foyer during the play's intermission leave your muddy boots in the foyer and come into the house
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While coaches fielded questions in the main ballroom at Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday, the conference commissioner paced a quiet foyer deep within the Hilton Chicago, phone by ear. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 30 July 2026 Beyond the threshold, the foyer with a wrought-iron staircase flows into the formal living and dining spaces, kitchen, library and home theater. — Sandra Barrera, Daily News, 30 July 2026 In the main gym foyer, there’s an area for people to watch live streams of games while purchasing food. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 The following morning, she was found dead in Spector’s foyer with a gunshot wound to the mouth. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for foyer

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, fireplace, from Vulgar Latin *focarium, from Latin focus hearth

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of foyer was in 1833

Rhymes for foyer

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Browse Nearby Words

foy boat
foyer
Foyle
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Cite this Entry

“Foyer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foyer. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

foyer

noun
foy·​er ˈfȯi(-ə)r How to pronounce foyer (audio) ˈfȯi-ˌ(y)ā How to pronounce foyer (audio)
1
: a lobby especially in a theater
2
: an entrance hallway : vestibule

More from Merriam-Webster on foyer

Nglish: Translation of foyer for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about foyer

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