john

¹

[jon]

noun

Slang.

1. a toilet or bathroom.

2. (sometimes initial capital letter),  a fellow; guy.

3. (sometimes initial capital letter),  a prostitute's customer.

4. Also called john mule. a male mule, or more properly a gelded mule.

John

²

[jon]

noun

1. the apostle John, believed to be the author of the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the book of Revelation.

2. John the Baptist.

3. John Lackland, 1167?–1216, king of England 1199–1216; signer of the Magna Carta 1215 (son of Henry II of England).

4. Augustus Edwin, 1878–1961, British painter and etcher.

5. Elton Reginald Kenneth Dwight, born 1947, English rock singer, pianist, and songwriter.

6. the fourth Gospel.

7. any of the three Epistles of John: 1, 2, or 3 John.

8. a male given name.

John

¹

/ dʒɒn /

noun

1. New Testament

   1. the apostle John, the son of Zebedee, identified with the author of the fourth Gospel, three epistles, and the book of Revelation. Feast day: Dec 27 or Sept 26

   2. the fourth Gospel

   3. any of three epistles (in full The First, Second, and Third Epistles of John )

2. See John the Baptist

3. known as John Lackland. 1167–1216, king of England (1199–1216); son of Henry II. He succeeded to the throne on the death of his brother Richard I, having previously tried to usurp the throne. War with France led to the loss of most of his French possessions. After his refusal to recognize Stephen Langton as archbishop of Canterbury an interdict was imposed on England (1208–14). In 1215 he was compelled by the barons to grant the Magna Carta

4. called the Fearless . 1371–1419, duke of Burgundy (1404–19). His attempt to control the mad king Charles VI and his murder of the king's brother led to civil war: assassinated

5. Augustus ( Edwin ). 1878–1961, British painter, esp of portraits

6. Barry born 1945, Welsh Rugby Union footballer: halfback for Wales (1966–72) and the British Lions (1968–71)

7. Sir Elton ( Hercules ). original name Reginald Dwight. born 1947, British rock pianist, composer, and singer; his hits include "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) and "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997), a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales

8. Gwen , sister of Augustus John. 1876–1939, British painter, working in France: noted esp for her portraits of women

john

²

/ dʒɒn /

noun

1. a slang word for lavatory

2. slang,  a prostitute's client

3. slang,  short for John Hop

Word History and Origins

Origin of john¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English Johan, Iohan, John; generic use of the proper name

Origin of john²

Middle English Johan, John, Jon, from Medieval Latin Jō(h)annēs, from Greek Iōánnēs, from Hebrew Yôkhānān, contracted from Yĕhôkhānān “God has been gracious”; Anna ( def. ), Yahweh ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of john¹

C20: special use of the proper name

Example Sentences

“Our client is a veteran who was injured in a car crash due to the alleged negligence of another driver,” Lee’s attorneys, John Morgan and Sydney Pierce of Morgan & Morgan law firm, said in a statement to The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

Named after its founding sponsor Sir John Moores the internationally renowned prize was first awarded in 1957.

From BBC

Artist Ally Fallon has been named as the youngest ever winner of the John Moores Painting Prize.

From BBC

The winning painting is on display along with 70 others selected, from more than 3,000 entries, for the John Moores Painting Prize 2025 exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery which runs from 6 September until 1 March 2026.

From BBC

John Adams, the nation’s first vice president, declared the position to be “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived, or his imagination conceived.”

From Salon

Related Words

• latrine 
• lavatory 
• men's room 
• outhouse 
• toilet 
• urinal