plural gymnasiums or gymnasia
sense 1
jim-ˈnā-zē-ə How to pronounce gymnasium (audio)
-zhə;
sense 2 is usually gim-ˈnä-zē-ə
Synonyms of gymnasiumnext
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

Synonyms of gymnasium

Examples of gymnasium in a Sentence

since it was raining, the kids had recess in the gymnasium
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some 36,000 houses and buildings were destroyed or damaged, and more than 2,000 people are still living in evacuation centers, including school gymnasiums and community centers. ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 Perhaps his greatest legacy at UCF is Dean was coaching in 1991 when UCF finally moved out of its tiny dank gymnasium and into its first legitimate basketball arena — a sparkling, by UCF standards, 5,100-seat facility. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 The high school gymnasium in my rural coal-mining community was packed to the rafters the night Dolly Parton brought her guitar to town. Michael Collins, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 At the center Tuesday afternoon, about a dozen residents gathered with pets and assorted belongings as a team of volunteers worked to set up a dormitory in the center’s gymnasium. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gymnasium

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gymnasium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gymnasium. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster