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

The two girls walk in snowy fields, visit temples and aquariums, and study sharks and other sea creatures for a new manga. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Environmental regulators recruited 14 universities, nonprofits, aquariums and laboratories to focus on different pieces of the project, from genetic research and reef monitoring to coral breeding and outplanting. — Nicolás Rivero, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

The kid-friendly learning center has plenty to explore, including a half-mile walking trail, touch tanks, mangrove aquarium, and observation bridge. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2026

Two more beluga whales have died at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, including one that was rehomed at the facility just weeks earlier as part of an international effort to rescue Canada's last captive whales, the aquarium announced Wednesday. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 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

• cerium
• armamentarium
• herbarium
• ovarium
• puparium
• samarium
• solarium
• zoarium
• 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