aquarium

noun

aquar·​i·​um ə-ˈkwer-ē-əm 

plural aquariums or aquaria ə-ˈkwer-ē-ə 

1

: a container (such as a glass tank) or an artificial pond in which living aquatic animals or plants are kept

2

: an establishment where aquatic organisms are kept and exhibited

Examples of aquarium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The aquarium opened a new era Tuesday with the announcement that Jenny Gray — a leader known for her work in animal ethics, welfare and conservation in Australia — will become just the second chief executive to lead the Monterey aquarium. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026

One of his interests is fishing, for example, so the children went on a field trip to an aquarium. —Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026

But then there's the famous shark aquarium and a massive sandy beach. —Andrea Bennett, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026

In the school's environmental lab, students grow produce hydroponically using a system powered in part by an aquarium that repurposes fish waste. —Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of aquatic vivarium

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aquarium

• tropical aquarium

Rhymes for aquarium

• herbarium
• ovarium
• puparium
• samarium
• zoarium
• armamentarium
• cerium
• honorarium
• planetarium
• sanitarium

Kids Definition

aquarium

noun

aquar·​i·​um ə-ˈkwar-ē-əm 

-ˈkwer-

plural aquariums or aquaria

-ē-ə

: a container (as a glass tank) in which living water animals or plants are kept

also : an establishment where collections of such animals or plants are kept and shown