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

Science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics activities might look like children’s museums or other interactive and tactile learning experiences—think The Sloomoo Institute or the touch tank at your local aquarium. —Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 13 Mar. 2026

The Full Cast Sally Field plays the widow, a cleaning lady at the aquarium where Marcellus is housed. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026

The narrator is not actually human, but rather a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus who forms an unlikely bond with the cleaning lady at the aquarium where he is housed. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026

The widow — the cleaning lady at the aquarium where Marcellus is housed — will be played by Sally Field. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 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