sauna

noun

sau·​na ˈsȯ-nə  ˈsau̇-nə 

1

: a Finnish steam bath in which the steam is provided by water thrown on hot stones

also : a bathhouse or room used for such a bath

2

: a dry heat bath

also : a room or cabinet used for such a bath

Examples of sauna in a Sentence

The health club has a pool and a sauna.

He talked about the benefits of taking a sauna regularly.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a Main Spa, with a treatment menu of Balinese and river stone massages and Rainforest lymphatic drainage facials; there are also outdoor heated spa pools and a sauna and steam room indoors. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

The bigger issue is prolonged, concentrated heat directly over the patch — think a heating pad, electric blanket, very hot bath, sauna or heated car seat. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 30 Sep. 2026

Out back, there’s a pool house and a sauna, a gym, a saltwater pool, and 234 feet of waterfront with docks, a beach, and a boathouse. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 30 Sep. 2026

In a sauna, dismantling a cabin because a control or heater needs replacement would be a poor outcome. — Christopher Kiggins, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Finnish

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sauna

• ana
• bwana
• dhyana
• donna
• fauna
• gonna
• jnana
• mana
• tswana
• wanna
• asana
• chicana

Kids Definition

sauna

noun

sau·​na ˈsau̇-nə  ˈsȯ-nə 

: a Finnish steam bath

Medical Definition

sauna

noun

sau·​na ˈsau̇-nə  ˈsȯ-nə 

1

: a Finnish steam bath in which the steam is provided by water thrown on hot stones

also : a bathhouse or room used for such a bath

2

: a dry heat bath

also : a room or cabinet used for such a bath