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

This hotel, which appeals to budget-conscious travelers with its free aquarium and mermaid show, offers free self-parking and valet parking. —Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025

The Canadian government will not grant an export permit to send the whales to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom aquarium, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said Wednesday. —CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

Kids can also get free access to county aquariums and gardens such as the Birch Aquarium, Japanese Friendship Garden and the Living Coast Discovery Center. —Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025

Tom is very attached to the fish in our aquarium and often gives them special names. —R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 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