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

Texas has also enacted laws banning the importation and possession of certain foreign crayfish species in aquariums to prevent accidental introductions and potential ecological disruptions. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

This summer, people will escape to beaches, bask in the ocean and visit marine wonders at the country’s spectacular aquariums, driven by this appreciation for the aquatic world. —John Racanelli, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025

Once the fish were sorted, the team transported them to the aquariums, which cared for them until June 17, the university said. —Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2025

Guitarfishes may also be caught accidentally or collected live for the aquarium trade. —Peter Kyne, The Conversation, 16 June 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