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

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

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈlɑn.dɹəˌmæt/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈloːn.dɹə.mæt/

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