Commode vs. Toilet — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on November 6, 2023
A commode is a portable toilet, often with a chair-like appearance, while a toilet is a fixed plumbing fixture for defecation and urination.
Difference Between Commode and Toilet
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A commode is specifically a portable type of toilet that can be moved or placed in various locations, typically consisting of a chair with a toilet seat and a receptacle underneath. Toilets, on the other hand, are stationary sanitary fixtures permanently installed in a bathroom for the disposal of human waste through a flushable drainage system.
Commode design often incorporates a chair-like structure that can be placed at the bedside of individuals who are unable to reach the bathroom. Toilets are designed to be part of a home or public restroom and are connected to a sewage system that requires plumbing. Commodes are commonly used in healthcare settings or for those with limited mobility.
The term commode has historical roots where it once referred to a cabinet or chest of drawers, but today, when it refers to sanitary equipment, it denotes a portable toilet. Toilets are known by various names worldwide, including "WC" (water closet), "lavatory," or simply "bathroom," and have designs ranging from squat toilets to high-tech toilets with electronic controls.
Functionally, commodes are usually equipped with a removable bucket that must be manually emptied and cleaned after use, emphasizing their convenience for bedside use. Toilets are equipped with a flushing mechanism that removes waste by flowing water, minimizing manual cleaning of the waste receptacle.
In terms of disposal, commodes do not require plumbing and are therefore not directly connected to a sewer or septic system. Toilets are designed to work with the home's plumbing system and facilitate waste removal via flushing, which leads directly to a sewer or septic system.
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Comparison Chart
Portability
Portable
Fixed
Design
Chair-like, often with receptacle
Permanent fixture, various styles
Usage
Bedside or temporary situations
Standard in bathrooms
Waste Disposal
Manual emptying of receptacle
Automated flushing to sewer
Connection
No plumbing required
Connected to plumbing system
Compare with Definitions
Commode
A bedside toilet for those with limited mobility.
After his surgery, he was thankful for the commode by his bed.
Toilet
A plumbing fixture connected to a sewage system for waste disposal.
He repaired the clogged toilet in the upstairs bathroom.
Commode
A movable piece of furniture that disguises a toilet.
They placed a decorative commode in the corner of the room.
Toilet
A water closet or lavatory with a seat and bowl for personal hygiene.
The public toilet was out of order, causing inconvenience to shoppers.
Commode
A commode is any of many pieces of furniture. The Oxford English Dictionary has multiple meanings of "commode".
Toilet
A restroom or washroom with facilities for relieving oneself.
The restaurant's toilet was clean and well-stocked with supplies.
Commode
A low cabinet or chest of drawers, often elaborately decorated and usually standing on legs or short feet.
Toilet
A toilet is a piece of sanitary hardware that collects human urine and feces, and sometimes toilet paper, usually for disposal. Flush toilets use water, while dry or non-flush toilets do not.
Commode
A movable stand or cupboard containing a washbowl.
Toilet
A fixed receptacle into which a person may urinate or defecate, typically consisting of a large bowl connected to a system for flushing away the waste into a sewer
Liz heard the toilet flush
A toilet seat
He got up to go to the toilet
Commode
A chair enclosing a chamber pot.
Toilet
The process of washing oneself, dressing, and attending to one's appearance
Her toilet completed, she finally went back downstairs
Commode
A toilet.
Toilet
Assist or supervise (someone, especially an infant or invalid) in using a toilet.
Commode
A woman's ornate headdress, fashionable around 1700.
Toilet
An apparatus for defecation and urination, usually consisting of a bowl fitted with a hinged seat and connected to a waste pipe and a flushing apparatus.
Commode
A low chest of drawers on short legs.
Toilet
A room or booth containing such an apparatus.
Commode
A stand for a washbowl and jug.
Toilet
The act or process of dressing or grooming oneself.
Commode
(euphemistic) A chair containing a chamber pot.
Toilet
Dress; attire; costume.
Commode
(euphemistic) A toilet.
Toilet
The cleansing of a body area as part of a surgical or medical procedure.
Commode
(historical) A kind of woman's headdress, raising the hair and fore part of the cap to a great height.
Toilet
(Archaic) A dressing table.
Commode
A kind of headdress formerly worn by ladies, raising the hair and fore part of the cap to a great height.
Or under high commodes, with looks erect.
Toilet
A room or enclosed area containing a fixture used for urination and defecation (i.e. a toilet (sense 2)): a bathroom or water closet.
Sorry, I was in the toilet.
Commode
A piece of furniture, so named according to temporary fashion
Toilet
A fixture used for urination and defecation, particularly one with a large bowl and ring-shaped seat which uses water to flush the waste material into a septic tank or sewer system.
My toilet backed up. Now the bathroom's flooded.
Commode
A plumbing fixture for defecation and urination
Toilet
(figuratively) A very shabby or dirty place.
Commode
A tall elegant chest of drawers
Toilet
(NZ) A small secondary lavatory having a fixture used for urination and defecation (i.e. a toilet (sense 2)) and sink but no bathtub or shower.toilet
Commode
A portable chair containing a toilet bowl and a receptacle.
The patient used a commode during her recovery.
Toilet
(obsolete) A covering of linen, silk, or tapestry, spread over a dressing table in a chamber or dressing room.
Commode
An aid for the elderly or infirm, doubling as a chair and toilet.
The elderly woman had a commode in her bedroom to avoid nightly trips to the bathroom.
Toilet
(obsolete) The table covered by such a cloth; a dressing table.
Commode
A chair with a hole, used as a toilet with a container underneath.
The commode was emptied and cleaned daily by the caregiver.
Toilet
Personal grooming; the process of washing, dressing and arranging the hair.
Toilet
One's style of dressing: dress, outfit.
Toilet
(archaic) A dressing room.
Toilet
(obsolete) A chamber pot.
Toilet
(dated) To dress and groom oneself.
Toilet
To use the toilet.
Toilet
To assist another (a child, etc.) in using the toilet.
Toilet
A covering of linen, silk, or tapestry, spread over a table in a chamber or a dressing room.
Toilet
A dressing table.
Toilet
Act or mode of dressing, or that which is arranged in dressing; attire; dress; as, her toilet is perfect.
Toilet
A room equipped with toilet facilities
Toilet
A plumbing fixture for defecation and urination
Toilet
Misfortune resulting in lost effort or money;
His career was in the gutter
All that work went down the sewer
Pensions are in the toilet
Toilet
The act of dressing and preparing yourself;
He made his morning toilet and went to breakfast
Toilet
A fixed bathroom fixture for defecation and urination with a flushing system.
The new apartment had a modern toilet with an efficient flushing mechanism.
Toilet
A sanitary system designed for the disposal of human waste.
The camping site offered basic toilet facilities.
Common Curiosities
What is a commode?
It's a portable toilet, often resembling a chair with a container.
What is a toilet?
It's a fixed sanitary fixture for defecation and urination connected to a plumbing system.
Does a toilet need to be fixed in place?
Yes, toilets are stationary and require installation.
Can a commode be used without plumbing?
Yes, commodes are designed for use without plumbing.
Is a commode suitable for long-term use?
Commodes are ideal for temporary or bedside use, particularly for those with mobility issues.
Are all toilets flushable?
Most modern toilets are flushable, but some public or portable toilets may not be.
Do commodes have a flush system?
No, commodes typically do not have a flush system; waste is manually removed.
What materials are commodes made from?
They can be made from plastic, metal, and sometimes wood, for comfort and ease of cleaning.
Do toilets come in different designs?
Toilets vary in design, from basic to luxury models with advanced features.
Can toilets be used by people with disabilities?
Yes, there are toilets designed for accessibility, but a commode may also be necessary for bedside use.
Are toilets more hygienic than commodes?
Toilets are generally more hygienic due to their flush systems which minimize direct contact with waste.
Can a commode be placed anywhere in the home?
Yes, commodes are portable and can be placed as needed.
How do you clean a commode?
The receptacle is removed, emptied, and cleaned with disinfectant.
What is the water consumption of a toilet?
It depends on the design, with older models using more water than newer, high-efficiency toilets.
Is a commode or toilet better for the elderly?
A commode can be more convenient for the elderly, especially if mobility is an issue.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
