noun

foyer

/ˈfoʊ.eɪ/ · say it: FOH·ay

an entrance hall in a house or theater

In Architecture & Design

In more detail

1. (noun) the entrance hall of a building such as a hotel, theater, or office building, used as a waiting area

2. (noun) the main entrance or lobby area where people first arrive

Examples

1. We met our friends in the hotel foyer before heading to dinner.
2. The theater's foyer was decorated beautifully for the opening night.

How to use foyer

Foyer refers to the first interior space people enter in a formal or public building, typically used for greeting guests or as a waiting area before proceeding further. It is more formal and architectural than the casual 'entrance' and often implies a larger, more prominent space than a simple 'hallway'. The term is especially common in descriptions of hotels, theaters, concert halls, and office buildings.

Common phrases

hotel foyer
theater foyer
office building foyer
grand foyer
enter the foyer
in the foyer

Synonyms

entrance hall · lobby · vestibule · atrium · entryway

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse foyer with 'foyer' in French contexts; note that in American English, foyer can also refer to a residential entrance hall (similar to a British 'hall'), though this usage is less common in formal British English.

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