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

There is an aquarium, a nature center run by the Detroit Zoo, a garden and a conservatory on the island. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025

The heartwarming footage, shared in September under the username @healthierwithhan, shows the poster taking her pup to a Miami Beach aquarium, a trip that the golden retriever seems to really appreciate. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025

Since the water is so clear, the area's tide pools almost act like mini-aquariums, giving visitors a glimpse into the vibrancy of the ocean that lies just beneath the surface. —Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2025

The campaign to release the penguins and to cease all breeding programs at the aquarium has gained traction in recent months. —Jack Guy, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 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