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 of gymnasium

• gym

Examples of gymnasium in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The film ends with the show itself, which unfurls at the Park Avenue Armory, a gorgeous red-brick 19th-century Upper East Side castle that, inside, resembles nothing so much as the world’s most industrial middle-school gymnasium. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Mar. 2026

The facility would include three swimming pools, exercise rooms, gymnasiums, and a walking and jogging track. —Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026

Before tipoff, lines stretched as fans filled the Pioneer's gymnasium, including former East Bay players and staff from decades ago, who showed up to witness the undefeated dream season. —Kevin Ko, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026

Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 16 Mar. 2026

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"