gymnasium

noun

gym·​na·​si·​um

sense 1

jim-ˈnā-zē-əm 

-zhəm;

sense 2 is usually

gim-ˈnä-zē-əm 

plural gymnasiums or gymnasia

sense 1

jim-ˈnā-zē-ə 

-zhə;

 sense 2 is usually  gim-ˈnä-zē-ə

1

a

: a large room used for various indoor sports (such as basketball or boxing) and usually equipped with gymnastic apparatus

b

: a building (as on a college campus) containing space and equipment for various indoor sports activities and usually including spectator accommodations, locker and shower rooms, offices, classrooms, and a swimming pool

2

[German, from Latin, school] : a European secondary school that prepares students for the university

Synonyms

• gym
• health club
• health spa
• spa

Examples of gymnasium in a Sentence

since it was raining, the kids had recess in the gymnasium

Recent Examples on the Web

In one scene, his head practically pokes into the rafters of a gymnasium. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

The 48-minute event, which featured several religious leaders — including Tommy Fountain Sr., pastor at 1025 Church in Monroe — was mostly upbeat, but also emotional, with many attendees stepping out of the gymnasium to shed their tears. —Curtis Bunn, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2024

Matt Carbone sat in his car on Tuesday as construction near his family’s gymnasium brought traffic to a halt. —Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 2 Aug. 2024

In recent weeks, Vice President Harris has traveled to high school gymnasiums and packed arenas to outline her economic vision for America. —David Trone, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, exercise ground, school, from Greek gymnasion, from gymnazein to exercise naked, from gymnos naked — more at naked

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

gymnasium

noun

gym·​na·​si·​um jim-ˈnā-zē-əm  -zhəm 

plural gymnasiums or gymnasia

-zē-ə,

-zhə

: a room or building for sports activities

Etymology

from Latin gymnasium "exercise ground, school," from Greek gymnasion (same meaning), from gymnazein "to exercise naked," from gymnos "naked"