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

Two more beluga whales have died at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, including one that was rehomed at the facility just weeks earlier as part of an international effort to rescue Canada's last captive whales, the aquarium announced Wednesday. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

The vacation also included horseback riding, visiting an aquarium and an afternoon tea party. — Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

Since 2004, over 80 zebra shark eggs have hatched at the Shedd, placing baby sharks at more than a dozen zoos and aquariums across the United States. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Sarah Callan, who heads up the aquarium’s animal rescue program, said the frequency of sightings appears to be increasing. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026

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

• cerium
• armamentarium
• herbarium
• ovarium
• puparium
• samarium
• solarium
• zoarium
• 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