2. A toilet is a plumbing fixture primarily intended for the disposal of human excreta : urine and fecal matter . Additionally, vomit and menstrual waste are sometimes disposed of in toilets in Western societies. The word toilet describes the fixture and, especially in British English , the room containing the fixture. In American English , the latter is euphemistically called a restroom or bathroom . The latter term often describes a room that also contains a bath tub . A room with only a toilet and a sink is sometimes called a half-bathroom , a half bath , or a powder room .