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

Families and leaders spoke in the rotunda, sharing resources and calling for action to address inequities that leave Black women and girls more vulnerable to harm. —Jennifer Mayerle, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026

The auditions will be held in the Mall of America’s rotunda in Bloomington and the public is welcome to watch. —Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026

At the northern end is a presentation in the Guggenheim’s rotunda of Lucinda Childs’s Early Works, including Pastime (1963) and Calico Mingling (1973). —Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2026

The façade was pure marketing, with Schubert and Mozart gazing down on an arched display window that gave views into the rotunda. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 9 Feb. 2026

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