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

Or Frost Science in Miami turns everyone into a kid — sharks circling a multi-story aquarium, planetarium shows that reset anyone’s sense of scale, exhibits that invite visitors to touch first and read second. —Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026

Last year, the aquarium celebrated the hatching of more than 3,000 red octopuses after discovering eggs hidden in a tank out of public view. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026

Visitors can make their way between a dazzling planetarium, an aquarium with live coral reefs, a natural history museum, and even an indoor rainforest dome populated by hundreds of tropical birds and butterflies. —Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026

The museum features an aquarium, IMAX theater and science labs where learning feels like play. —Bill Bootz, Charlotte Observer, 2 Jan. 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

• 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