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

Large aquariums, able to permanently house adult turtles, are rarely sold as kits and can cost upward of $200 when all necessary accessories are accounted for. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026

In an Instagram video accompanying the announcement, the aquarium's team shared more information about the baby penguin. —Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026

The 18-mile Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail offers slices of green space for picnics and trails to bike or walk to the aquarium, Cannery Row, and Fisherman’s Wharf. —Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026

To celebrate the milestone, the aquarium is allowing people to vote on its future name. —CBS News, 5 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