gymnasium

noun

gym·​na·​si·​um

sense 1

jim-ˈnā-zē-əm 

-zhəm;

sense 2 is usually

gim-ˈnä-zē-əm 

plural gymnasiums or gymnasia

sense 1

jim-ˈnā-zē-ə 

-zhə;

 sense 2 is usually  gim-ˈnä-zē-ə

1

a

: a large room used for various indoor sports (such as basketball or boxing) and usually equipped with gymnastic apparatus

b

: a building (as on a college campus) containing space and equipment for various indoor sports activities and usually including spectator accommodations, locker and shower rooms, offices, classrooms, and a swimming pool

2

[German, from Latin, school] : a European secondary school that prepares students for the university

Synonyms

• gym

Examples of gymnasium in a Sentence

since it was raining, the kids had recess in the gymnasium

Recent Examples on the Web

The remodel of the former office building included the construction of about 30 traditional classrooms, art rooms with kilns, science labs, a band room, gymnasium and cafeteria, McGlynn said. —Mars King, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025

The former gymnasium for the laborer training school that once occupied the property and now serves as Olivet’s chapel is decorated with holiday decor on December 13, 2022, for an upcoming choir concert. —Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025

The precinct was located inside the Lake Wylie Elementary School gymnasium. —Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2025

Emerson had an auditorium, a gymnasium, a swimming pool and an upstairs indoor running track. —Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, exercise ground, school, from Greek gymnasion, from gymnazein to exercise naked, from gymnos naked — more at naked

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

gymnasium

noun

gym·​na·​si·​um jim-ˈnā-zē-əm  -zhəm 

plural gymnasiums or gymnasia

-zē-ə,

-zhə

: a room or building for sports activities

Etymology

from Latin gymnasium "exercise ground, school," from Greek gymnasion (same meaning), from gymnazein "to exercise naked," from gymnos "naked"