gymnasium

noun

gym·​na·​si·​um
sense 1
jim-ˈnā-zē-əm How to pronounce gymnasium (audio)
-zhəm;
sense 2 is usually
gim-ˈnä-zē-əm How to pronounce gymnasium (audio)
plural gymnasiums or gymnasia
sense 1
jim-ˈnā-zē-ə How to pronounce gymnasium (audio)
-zhə;
 sense 2 is usually  gim-ˈnä-zē-ə
1
a
: a large room used for various indoor sports (such as basketball or boxing) and usually equipped with gymnastic apparatus
b
: a building (as on a college campus) containing space and equipment for various indoor sports activities and usually including spectator accommodations, locker and shower rooms, offices, classrooms, and a swimming pool
2
[German, from Latin, school] : a European secondary school that prepares students for the university

Examples of gymnasium in a Sentence

since it was raining, the kids had recess in the gymnasium
Recent Examples on the Web The access provided glimpses of the team’s workouts, games, Phillips’ locker-room talks and lighter moments away from the gymnasium. Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 The organization posted a video clip of what appeared to be a gymnasium on its grounds, with audible shelling outside. Abigail Williams, NBC News, 30 Jan. 2024 The Granite State is known for its seasoned first-in-the-nation primary voters, who take presidential candidates to task every election cycle with tough questions at town halls in high school gymnasiums and diner stops. Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2024 Bob Myers sat in the gymnasium of Oxnard College on Thursday afternoon holding his cane. Christian Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2023 Carlsbad has six outdoor pickleball courts at Poinsettia Community Park, and indoor courts in the gymnasiums at the Calavera Hills, Stagecoach and Pine Avenue community centers. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024 Her signature, a replica of that on her driver's license, painted onto the gymnasium floor, serves as a focal point. Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 11 Feb. 2024 Miss Manners would hope that the parents of young athletes, and the managers of teams and of gymnasiums, would find it in their interest to revive the old standards and bar mean-spirited behavior. Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2024 Holt was repeatedly interrupted, banging his small gavel on the table in the middle school gymnasium several times to try to quiet the crowd. Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gymnasium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin, exercise ground, school, from Greek gymnasion, from gymnazein to exercise naked, from gymnos naked — more at naked

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of gymnasium was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near gymnasium

Cite this Entry

“Gymnasium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gymnasium. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gymnasium

noun
gym·​na·​si·​um jim-ˈnā-zē-əm How to pronounce gymnasium (audio) -zhəm How to pronounce gymnasium (audio)
plural gymnasiums or gymnasia
-zē-ə,
-zhə
: a room or building for sports activities
Etymology

from Latin gymnasium "exercise ground, school," from Greek gymnasion (same meaning), from gymnazein "to exercise naked," from gymnos "naked"

More from Merriam-Webster on gymnasium

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