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

Examples of gymnasium in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

His shooting mechanics haven’t looked rushed during their reintroduction to game speed, after 12 months of mostly empty gymnasiums. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 14 July 2025

That’s why Cramer gifted the town a recreation center around the early 1940s, fitted with a gymnasium and pool and located right next to Cramerton School, which housed kids from first to 12th grade. —Emma Moon, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025

Following the tornado, about 500 McCullough students spent about three weeks at the Gary Area Career Center before returning to McCullough after the gymnasium section was cordoned off. —Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025

Today, more than 30 venues across Avignon and the surrounding region—ranging from chapels and cloisters to gardens, quarries, and gymnasiums—host over 400 events, including performances, debates, readings, screenings, and public talks. —Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

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"