What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hatchway
Example
The sailors climbed down the hatchway to the lower deck. [hatchway: noun]
Example
I found some old books in the attic hatchway. [hatchway: noun]
Example
The secret room was hidden behind a hatchway in the library. [hatchway: noun]
trapdoor
Example
The magician disappeared through the trapdoor in the stage. [trapdoor: noun]
Example
The robbers escaped through a trapdoor in the floor. [trapdoor: noun]
Example
The spy entered the building through a trapdoor in the roof. [trapdoor: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hatchway is more commonly used in nautical or architectural contexts, while trapdoor is more commonly used in theatrical or fictional contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hatchway and trapdoor?
Both hatchway and trapdoor are relatively informal words, but hatchway may be slightly more formal due to its association with nautical and architectural terminology.
