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

With two separate houses, a rushing creek running through the grounds, and a sauna and a cedar barrel hot tub beside the water, the sprawling estate gave our group a place to gather (or rather, frolic) between outings. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026

Conditions inside Pennsylvania’s prisons have been described as a sauna during a summer heat wave and bitterly cold in the winter, especially when heating systems have malfunctioned. — Jaquelyn Jahn, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Outside are bluestone patios, a modern pergola, a cedar sauna, and a guesthouse with a Brazilian granite island. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 14 Oct. 2026

Tony said they have been audited before and that the Broward County Commission knew about the cold plunges and sauna from a county audit completed in 2024. — Norgan Rynor, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 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