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

Enter the Alaska SeaLife Center, an aquarium with 40 sunflower sea stars — the largest collection of the animals in the world. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025

This is one of the few institutions worldwide to have both an aquarium and a planetarium in one museum. —Alesa Andrew, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025

The ocean makes a stunning backdrop for a special dinner, as does a mesmerizing aquarium filled with live jellyfish. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025

Shot in unique settings like a terrarium and an aquarium, these visuals symbolize comfort and familiarity—contrasted by striking, avant-garde designs that push her artistry into new territory. —Billboard Korea, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2025

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

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