cubicle

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'cubicle' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to a small enclosed space, typically one used to provide a degree of privacy for a person working in an office. For example, “I like to work in my cubicle where I can concentrate without interruptions.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I went to the bathroom alone and after half an hour my friend found me collapsed face-down in a cubicle, with the door locked and my feet sticking out from underneath it," she says.

The Guardian

You're telling me you don't have hundreds of men popping into your cubicle in the accounting department of your mid-sized, regional dry-goods distributor to inform you that – hmm – you're too fat to rape, but perhaps they'll saw you up with an electric knife?

The Guardian

A patient referred to CAMHS waits in an A&E cubicle, thus limiting space to see other patients.

The Guardian - Opinion

The second was in high school, when I was sitting in what I thought was a private toilet stall and looked up to find half a dozen of my so-called friends leaning over from the next cubicle, laughing.

The Guardian - Opinion

O'Malley is a mishmash of a stray Kennedy and the type of policy obsessive who even thinktanks keep locked away in a back office cubicle.

The Guardian

Picture the scene: perhaps in the secret back room of a nightclub, reserved for VIPs, or perhaps in a humble lavatory cubicle, we find three legendary libertine pleasure-seekers, eyes wild, in the midst of a night of crazed, hang-the-consequences gratification, lines of cocaine chopped out before them.

The Guardian

Stephanie and David spent the first terrifying day of married life sheltering from the 150mph winds in a shower cubicle.

The Guardian - Travel

Afraid to sit on toilets in case a rat emerged from the U-bend, at school I also had to leave the cubicle door unlocked for fear of being accidentally locked in all night.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Goffin and King wrote their songs cooped up in a cubicle at a huge publishing house at 1650 Broadway in New York, and this song was surely as autobiographical as the ones about their break-up (Just Once in My Life, Road to Nowhere).

The Guardian - Music

The 2,000 internees carried with them into the camp a substantial library that circulated from cubicle to cubicle, bunk to bunk, and was my first exposure to adult fiction – popular American bestsellers, Reader's Digest condensed books, Somerset Maugham and Sinclair Lewis, Steinbeck and HG Wells.

The Guardian - Books

One was a sign on my primary school toilet cubicle door: "Now wash your hands".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cubicle" when the context involves office layouts, employee productivity, or workplace culture.

Common error

Don't use "cubicle" to describe any small space; it typically refers to a partitioned workstation in an office. Use more general terms like "small room" or "enclosure" for other contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "cubicle" is as a noun. It typically refers to a small, partitioned workspace within an office setting, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "cubicle" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a partitioned workspace commonly found in offices. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Its purpose is to describe a particular type of workspace, and its register is neutral, making it appropriate for various contexts. Ludwig's examples show its prevalence in news, business, and even scientific publications. While synonyms like "workstation" and "office partition" exist, "cubicle" specifically evokes an image of a small, somewhat private area within a larger office setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

workstation

Focuses on the functional aspect of the space as a dedicated work area.

office partition

Highlights the physical division created within an office environment.

booth

Similar in structure but usually for a temporary, private space.

stall

Emphasizes a small, enclosed area, often in a public setting.

compartment

Stresses the idea of being one of several divided sections within a larger space.

alcove

Highlights a recess or small space set back from a room or wall.

carrel

Specifically refers to a small study area in a library.

bay

An area set back or indented in a room.

enclosure

Highlights that the QUERY represents a delimited physical space.

work space

A generic phrase that can refer to any area for working.

FAQs

How to use "cubicle" in a sentence?

You can use "cubicle" to describe a partitioned workspace in an office environment. For example, "She decorated her "cubicle" with personal photos."

What can I say instead of "cubicle"?

You can use alternatives like "workstation", "office partition", or "booth" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "cubicle" or "cube"?

Both "cubicle" and "cube" can refer to small spaces, but ""cubicle"" specifically refers to a partitioned workstation, while "cube" is a more general term for a three-dimensional shape or small room.

What's the difference between "cubicle" and "office"?

"Cubicle" is a partitioned workspace within a larger office environment, providing some privacy, while an "office" is a more general term for a room or space used for administrative or professional work.