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

Detectives watched security-camera footage that showed them enter the aquarium’s property through the mangroves of a neighboring business, according to the report. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026

Read about sea turtle Porkchop’s recovery journey at Long Beach’s aquarium. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026

The new aquarium pool can accommodate one or more turtles, depending on their size. —Julie Sharp, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026

Cross Del Monte Boulevard, and dune trails lead to Monterey State Beach where a look to the left rewards you with Pacific views sweeping toward the aquarium. —Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 26 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