aquarium

noun

aquar·​i·​um ə-ˈkwer-ē-əm 

plural aquariums or aquaria ə-ˈkwer-ē-ə 

1

: a container (such as a glass tank) or an artificial pond in which living aquatic animals or plants are kept

2

: an establishment where aquatic organisms are kept and exhibited

Examples of aquarium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the best villain moves, honestly, right up there with having a shark in an aquarium and delivering a long monologue to another character about how the two of you are not so different. —Brian Grubb, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025

The duo was seen enjoying some of the exhibits that the aquarium had on display. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025

Bob Lehman from the San Diego Museum Council speaks about how to explore the fun and get your passes online or at local libraries good for 50 percent off admission to more than 70 museums, historic sites, gardens and aquariums throughout San Diego County and Tijuana. —Paola Hernandez Jiao, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025

Owners of the financially troubled aquarium chain SeaQuest, whose Folsom location was beset by claims of animal abuse, asked an Idaho bankruptcy judge Friday to approve the company’s sale for the cost of a luxury sedan. —Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of aquatic vivarium

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aquarium

• tropical aquarium

Rhymes for aquarium

• herbarium
• ovarium
• puparium
• samarium
• zoarium
• armamentarium
• cerium
• honorarium
• planetarium
• sanitarium

Kids Definition

aquarium

noun

aquar·​i·​um ə-ˈkwar-ē-əm 

-ˈkwer-

plural aquariums or aquaria

-ē-ə

: a container (as a glass tank) in which living water animals or plants are kept

also : an establishment where collections of such animals or plants are kept and shown