gymnasium

noun

gym·​na·​si·​um
sense 1
jim-ˈnā-zē-əm How to pronounce gymnasium (audio)
-zhəm;
sense 2 is usually
gim-ˈnä-zē-əm How to pronounce gymnasium (audio)
plural gymnasiums or gymnasia
sense 1
jim-ˈnā-zē-ə How to pronounce gymnasium (audio)
-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

Examples of gymnasium in a Sentence

since it was raining, the kids had recess in the gymnasium
Recent Examples on the Web On this night, the community center’s dimmed gymnasium is transformed into a makeshift fight ring lined with pink, blue and white trans pride flags and fiery flames projected onto the wall. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024 The venue featured the city’s first gymnasium and first indoor pool. Tom Layberger, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 Emhoff’s first event was a Freedom to Vote rally, at San Antonio College, and the school’s gymnasium was packed with a diverse and excited crowd. Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024 The first floor has a lobby welcome center, a games room, recording studio, teaching kitchen, cafeteria and gymnasium. Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 22 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gymnasium 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gymnasium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gymnasium was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near gymnasium

Cite this Entry

“Gymnasium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gymnasium. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

gymnasium

noun
gym·​na·​si·​um jim-ˈnā-zē-əm How to pronounce gymnasium (audio) -zhəm How to pronounce gymnasium (audio)
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on gymnasium

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