walkin

Walk-in is a term used to describe people, spaces, or services that operate without a prior appointment or reservation. It can refer to someone who enters a facility without planning, as well as spaces or services designed for immediate access. Common contexts include healthcare (walk-in clinics and urgent care centers), retail (walk-in stores or showrooms), and housing or interiors (walk-in closets).

Origin and usage: The term derives from the literal act of walking into a place. It is typically hyphenated when used as an adjective before a noun (a walk-in clinic, a walk-in closet) and can be used as a noun (a walk-in) to describe a customer or patient who arrives without an appointment. The plural form is walk-ins. Some writers also encounter the unhyphenated form walkin or the variant walkin.

Examples and forms: Walk-in is common in healthcare, where patients may seek care without a scheduled visit. In retail and hospitality, walk-in customers may be served on a first-come, first-served basis. Physical features described as walk-in include walk-in closets, walk-in bathtubs, and walk-in showers, which are designed to be entered by stepping inside.

Notes: Availability and wait times vary by service and region. While walk-ins offer flexibility, not all services accept them, and some may require registration, triage, or limited hours. The term remains widely used in professional, consumer, and architectural contexts to emphasize immediate access or entry.