cistern

noun

cis·​tern ˈsi-stərn 

1

: an artificial reservoir (such as an underground tank) for storing liquids and especially water (such as rainwater)

2

: a large usually silver vessel formerly used (as in cooling wine) at the dining table

3

: a fluid-containing sac or cavity in an organism

Examples of cistern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Connect downspout cisterns either above or below ground. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025

In Todi, descend into Roman cisterns beneath the piazza—an ancient, echoing world few ever see. —Matteo Della Grazia, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025

Louisville had a system of cisterns and wells by 1823, an official history of the city's fire department shows. —Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Nov. 2025

The site included installations for processing grapes, along with cisterns used to supply water and grinding stones. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin cisterna, from cista box, chest — more at chest

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cistern

noun

cis·​tern ˈsis-tərn 

: an artificial reservoir or tank for storing water usually underground

Medical Definition

cistern

noun

cis·​tern ˈsis-tərn 

: a fluid-containing sac or cavity in an organism