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

For National Geographic’s Photo Ark project, photographer Joel Sartore is documenting all species living in the world’s zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries. —Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Nov. 2025

See the aquarium bedecked in holiday lights sure to get you in the holiday spirit. —Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Nov. 2025

This is a world of karaoke bars and digital aquariums and screens — a surface-deep universe of constant performance not unlike our own. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025

There is an aquarium, a nature center run by the Detroit Zoo, a garden and a conservatory on the island. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 19 Nov. 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