WordGarden.ioparlor
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈɑːlə/
US
- /ˈpɑrlər/
Meanings
Noun
a sitting room or reception room in a house
a business or shop, usually named in compounds, that offers a particular service or product
Beyond the definition
Once upon a time, before family rooms and dens were common, most homes had a parlor. This wasn't just any room; it was the "best" room, reserved for receiving guests or hosting special occasions. Think of it as a showcase: beautifully decorated and often a bit stiff, meant for conversation rather than everyday lounging. A Victorian family would receive callers in their parlor, and young couples might even court there under a watchful eye. While residential parlors are now rare, the word has survived in the business world. Today, you are just as likely to hear it in names like ice cream parlor or beauty parlor, where it still suggests a special, welcoming place.
The word parlor finds its roots in the Old French "parler," meaning "to speak," reflecting its original purpose as a dedicated room for conversation. Historically, it was the formal heart of the home, particularly in Victorian and Edwardian houses, where it served as a display of a family's wealth and social standing. It was kept pristine, distinct from the casual "living" areas where the family spent their daily lives.
As architectural trends changed, the residential parlor largely faded away, but the term's meaning expanded into the public sphere. In the late 19th century, businesses began adopting the name to evoke a sense of domestic comfort and refinement. This is why we still visit an "ice cream parlor" for a treat or a "beauty parlor" for a transformation. The term also extends to more somber or specialized settings, such as a "funeral parlor," where families gather to receive mourners, or a "tattoo parlor," where a specific craft is practiced. Whether it's a grand historical sitting room or a modern storefront, a parlor remains a place defined by social interaction and specialized service.
Examples
- 1
Formal room
The family kept the front parlor tidy for visitors.
- Usage
In this sense, parlor often sounds old-fashioned or historical.
- 2
Beauty services
She stopped at the beauty parlor before the wedding.
- Usagebeauty parlor
a place for hair or beauty treatments; salon is more common today
- 3
Ice-cream shop
We took the kids to an ice-cream parlor after dinner.
- 4
Tattoo shop
He got his first tattoo at a small parlor downtown.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Funeral services
The funeral parlor helped the family plan the service.
- 6
Party game
At parties, guessing people's jobs became a kind of parlor game.
- Phraseparlor game
a light indoor game played for fun
- 7
Entertaining skill
His card trick was clever, but it was still just a parlor trick.
- Phraseparlor trick
an entertaining skill that is not very serious or useful
See also
Similar
- living room
- sitting room
- drawing room
Shades of meaning
- reception room
- salon
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- front parlor
- parlor furniture
- parlor games
Explore
- domestic space
- hospitality
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- parlornoun
Forms
- parlorspluralnoun