gymnasium
noun
gym·na·si·um
sense 1
jim-ˈnā-zē-əm
-zhəm;
sense 2 is usually
gim-ˈnä-zē-əm
plural gymnasiums or gymnasia
sense 1
jim-ˈnā-zē-ə
-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
In militaristic sync as they pound treadmills, down protein shakes and take steroid injections in the buttocks, a gymnasium full of lavishly buff (even 24-packed, to quote a droll visual gag) gay men blankly sing the praises of the body-beautiful lifestyle to a pounding EDM beat.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 May 2026
Steer clear of windows and avoid large open spaces like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
The building itself spans about 3,700 sq m (40,000 sq ft) and replaces an older facility from 1949 that the neighborhood has long outgrown, offering space for a gymnasium, a childcare center, a basketball court, community gathering spots, and various multipurpose rooms.
—Stefan Ionescu
may 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2026
During the assembly, Golden Apple representatives rushed to the front of the gymnasium to surprise Gill with a $5,000 check and a gift basket of chocolates.
—Alexandra Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gymnasium
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Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 May 2026
Steer clear of windows and avoid large open spaces like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
The building itself spans about 3,700 sq m (40,000 sq ft) and replaces an older facility from 1949 that the neighborhood has long outgrown, offering space for a gymnasium, a childcare center, a basketball court, community gathering spots, and various multipurpose rooms.
—Stefan Ionescu
may 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2026
During the assembly, Golden Apple representatives rushed to the front of the gymnasium to surprise Gill with a $5,000 check and a gift basket of chocolates.
—Alexandra Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gymnasium
Cite this Entry
“Gymnasium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gymnasium. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gymnasium
noun
gym·na·si·um
jim-ˈnā-zē-əm
-zhəm
-zhəm
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"
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