john
🇬🇧 /ˈdʒɒn/
🇺🇸 /ˈdʒɑn/
📖 Definitions
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noun
A toilet or bathroom, especially in informal American English usage.; A client or customer of a prostitute; a man who solicits the services of a sex worker.; A male given name, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious.'; Used as a generic or placeholder name for an unknown or unspecified man, similar to 'John Doe.'; A condom, in slang usage.; A detective or police officer, in old slang usage.
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verb
To urinate; to use the toilet.
🔗 Details
Word forms
countable
Plural: johns
Collocations
hit the johnin the john
Derivatives
johnny
Synonyms
toiletrestroombathroomlavatorylooWC
Commonly confused
John
EN: 'John' (capitalized) is a proper noun (a male given name); 'john' (lowercase) is informal slang for a toilet or a client of a prostitute.
johnny
EN: 'johnny' can refer to a condom (British slang) or a hospital gown, whereas 'john' refers to a toilet or a prostitute's client.
Spelling tips
EN: Capitalization matters: 'John' is a proper name, while lowercase 'john' is the informal slang noun. Avoid capitalizing when using the slang sense.
💬 Examples
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I'll be right back; I need to use the john.
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The police set up a sting operation to catch johns soliciting on the street.
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John Smith was the most common name in the United States for many decades.
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The average john on the street wouldn't know the first thing about quantum physics.
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He always carried a john in his wallet, just in case.
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The johns were already on the scene when the thief tried to escape.
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The toddler needed to john before we left the house.