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

By December 2028, a new International Swimming Hall of Fame is expected to beckon tourists and locals alike with a family-friendly aquarium, museum and rooftop restaurant. —Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026

Thunderball Grotto is renowned as an otherworldly snorkeling destination with an aquarium-like array of sea life and on-screen credits in two James Bond films. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026

Irvi was their full-time caretaker, toting them by subway to museums, the aquarium, the zoo, and story time at the public libraries. —Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026

And starting Friday, March 20, the frog will be the focus of the aquarium’s newest exhibition. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 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