gondola

noun

gon·​do·​la ˈgän-də-lə 

(usual for sense 1)

gän-ˈdō- 

1

: a long narrow flat-bottomed boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice

2

a

: an elongated car attached to the underside of an airship

b

: an often spherical airtight enclosure suspended from a balloon for carrying passengers or instruments

c

: an enclosed car suspended from a cable and used for transporting passengers

especially : one used as a ski lift

3

: a heavy flat-bottomed boat used on New England rivers and on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers

4

: a railroad car with no top, a flat bottom, and fixed sides that is used chiefly for hauling heavy bulk commodities

Illustration of gondola

• gondola 1

Examples of gondola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There would also be 145 acres of new ski trails and 135 acres for tree skiing, serviced by four new aerial lifts and a gondola that would connect skiers to the town. — Digital Producer, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Nothing tells you how ticket holders are responding to a movie like a gondola ride to or from the Chuck Jones Theatre. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

One fond memory of Telluride is once being trapped in a gondola with the often grumpy Mike Leigh. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026

The couple were photographed getting cozy together while taking a ride through the canals of Venice, Italy on a gondola. — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian dialect (Venetian), probably from Middle Greek kontoura small vessel

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gondola

noun

gon·​do·​la ˈgän-də-lə ( 

usual for sense 1

) 

gän-ˈdō-

1

: a long narrow boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice

2

: a railroad car with low sides and no top used for hauling loose freight

3

: an enclosure that hangs from something: as

a

: the part of a balloon in which passengers or instruments are carried

b

: a car that hangs from a cable and is used especially as a lift for skiers