pagoda

noun

pa·​go·​da pə-ˈgō-də 

: a tower in eastern Asia usually with roofs curving upward at the division of each of several stories and erected as a temple or memorial

Illustration of pagoda

Examples of pagoda in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Originally built as a carriage road during the 1880s, the long and winding road takes you from downtown Hot Springs (just off Central Avenue at the end of Fountain Street) to a lovely picnic area and overlook featuring a historic pagoda that dates back to the early 1900s. —Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 14 Jan. 2026

Nearby, a stone pagoda bears a tall, striking pillar which has four Buddha faces — one per cardinal direction. —Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025

But the most popular response was pagoda, a Hindu or Buddhist temple. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025

But the delicate and sturdy structure with a multitiered roof that makes her box look a pagoda devoted to the baking gods. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese pagode statue of a deity, Hindu or Buddhist temple

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pagoda

• coda
• oda
• soda
• toda
• copepoda
• decapoda
• gastropoda
• isopoda
• nematoda
• ostracoda

Kids Definition

pagoda

noun

pa·​go·​da pə-ˈgōd-ə 

: a tower in eastern Asia of several stories erected as a temple or memorial