laundromat

English

Etymology

Blend of laundry +‎ automatic. From Laundromat, (former) trademark (1940s) of Westinghouse Electric Corporation for its washing machines, coined by Westinghouse publicist George Edward Pendray.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlɔːndɹəʊˌmæt/, /ˈlɔːndɹəmæt/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Noun

laundromat (plural laundromats)

1. (US, Canada, Australia) A self-service laundry facility with (traditionally) coin-operated (which now may use other per-load payment methods) washing machines, dryers, and sometimes ironing or pressing machines, open to the public for washing clothing and household cloth items.
2. A money laundering operation.
   • 2020, Birgitte Dyrekilde, ‎Lars Abild, Man of Power

     The Russian laundromat was soon nicknamed the Moldovan laundromat, as it centred on transactions between Russia and the small, poor country locked between Ukraine and Romania.

Synonyms

• (self-service laundry facility): launderette, laundrette, washeteria, washery, washette, coin laundry
• (money-laundering operation): launderette

Hypernyms

• (self-service laundry facility): laundry

Derived terms

• laundromatting

 

Related terms

• automat
• automatic
• laundry

 

Translations

self-service laundry facility — see launderette

See also

• laundromat on Wikipedia.Wikipedia