auditorium

noun

au·​di·​to·​ri·​um ˌȯ-də-ˈtȯr-ē-əm 

plural auditoriums or auditoria ˌȯ-də-ˈtȯr-ē-ə 

1

: the part of a public building where an audience sits

2

: a room, hall, or building used for public gatherings

Synonyms

• amphitheater
• arena
• garden
• hall
• theater
• theatre

Examples of auditorium in a Sentence

will hold the town meeting in the high school auditorium

Recent Examples on the Web

May 9, 2024 In September 2013, in a darkened auditorium, Microsoft’s chief executive, Steve Ballmer, faced a roaring crowd of his employees. —Emma Goldberg Sarah Mollo-Christensen Tanya Pérez Sharon Kearney, New York Times, 9 May 2024

The two-story building had multiple classrooms, an auditorium and a cafeteria. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin audītōrium "lecture room, hall, body of listeners," from audīre "to hear" + -tōrium, suffix of places, from neuter of -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix — more at audible entry 1, auditory entry 2

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

auditorium

noun

au·​di·​to·​ri·​um ˌȯd-ə-ˈtōr-ē-əm 

-ˈtȯr-

1

: the part of a public building where an audience sits

2

: a room, hall, or building used for public gatherings