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

Supporting aquariums helps to preserve wild places through important conservation and education efforts. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025

The couple plans to use their winnings to buy a new truck and take a trip to an aquarium, officials said. —Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025

The Seaquarium has an aquarium already, but a source familiar with Martin’s plans said the new aquarium would be modernized and larger in order to be an attraction for the site. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025

In 2014, Paul McGinley decked out the players’ team room in European colors, right down to the baize on the pool table and the blue-and-gold fish in the aquarium. —Don Riddell, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 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