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 gymnasium still features a banner for the Lancers, referring to the mascot of the closed private school. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

Authorities also advised tourists to leave, while a nearby gymnasium was opened to receive evacuees. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

While the celebrations had to be taken indoors due to rain and speeches were intermingled with thunder, the school’s new gymnasium was packed with smiling families, students and area school officials on Thursday afternoon. — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Guests then piled onto Routemaster buses to head to the party at the gymnasium, where two of the couple’s friends DJed and a soul band played. — Jessica Salter, Vogue, 6 Aug. 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"