gondola

noun

gon·​do·​la

(usual for sense 1)

ˈgän-də-lə  gän-ˈdō- 

1

: a long narrow flat-bottomed boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice

2

a

: an elongated car attached to the underside of an airship

b

: an often spherical airtight enclosure suspended from a balloon for carrying passengers or instruments

c

: an enclosed car suspended from a cable and used for transporting passengers

especially : one used as a ski lift

3

: a heavy flat-bottomed boat used on New England rivers and on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers

4

: a railroad car with no top, a flat bottom, and fixed sides that is used chiefly for hauling heavy bulk commodities

Illustration of gondola

• gondola 1

Examples of gondola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The biggest thing on the immediate horizon (in addition to the new 2-stage gondola) is the impending debut of the world’s first ski hotel from top tier luxury operator One & Only, which currently has a dozen Forbes 4 and 5-Star properties from South Africa to Dubai to Mexico. —Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Gliding silently above the rocky landscape, the six-seat gondola gives guests a bird’s-eye view of the giraffes, zebras, and other species that call the reserve home. —Julia Eskins, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025

The attraction has two side-by-side gondolas that seat 16 people apiece and move in pendulum style, gradually reaching a completely upside-down status and a moment of weightlessness, before going, well, overboard. —Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2025

The cargo bay and 19-passenger gondola are located on the underside of the central lobe, while the lower side lobes feature the unique Air Cushion Landing System fans that add serious versatility to the Z1's operation. —New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian dialect (Venetian), probably from Middle Greek kontoura small vessel

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gondola

noun

gon·​do·​la ˈgän-də-lə ( 

usual for sense 1

) 

gän-ˈdō-

1

: a long narrow boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice

2

: a railroad car with low sides and no top used for hauling loose freight

3

: an enclosure that hangs from something: as

a

: the part of a balloon in which passengers or instruments are carried

b

: a car that hangs from a cable and is used especially as a lift for skiers