rotunda

noun

ro·​tun·​da rō-ˈtən-də 

1

: a round building

especially : one covered by a dome

2

a

: a large round room

b

: a large central area (as in a hotel)

Examples of rotunda in a Sentence

We stood inside the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Recent Examples on the Web

Bordered by antique wood pillar columns, the custom wood and glass front doors lead into a rotunda foyer displaying dark polished hardwood floors that run throughout the interiors. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 11 Nov. 2025

Those who do receive a formal state funeral lie in state in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. —James Powel, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025

The main reason there is a life-sized statue of the late Sen. Robert Byrd in the rotunda of the West Virginia Capitol (for now) is because of exactly the kinds of old-school, pork-barrel politics at which Byrd was an undisputed master. —Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 7 Nov. 2025

The piece will be identical to one that is located in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C. —Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian rotonda, from Latin rotunda, feminine of rotundus

First Known Use

circa 1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rotunda

• fenestra rotunda

Rhymes for rotunda

• lunda
• munda

Kids Definition

rotunda

noun

ro·​tun·​da rō-ˈtən-də 

1

: a round building

especially : one covered by a dome

2

a

: a large round room

b

: a large central area (as in a hotel)

Medical Definition

rotunda

see fenestra rotunda