aquarium

American  

[uh-kwair-ee-uhm] / əˈkwɛər i əm /

noun

plural

aquariums, aquaria

1. a glass-sided tank, bowl, or the like, in which fish or other living aquatic animals or plants are kept.

2. a building or institution in which fish or other aquatic animals or plants are kept for exhibit, study, etc.

---

aquarium British  

/ əˈkwɛərɪəm /

noun

1. a tank, bowl, or pool in which aquatic animals and plants are kept for pleasure, study, or exhibition

2. a building housing a collection of aquatic life, as for exhibition

---

Other Word Forms

• aquarial adjective

Etymology

Origin of aquarium

1840–50; blend of Latin aquārius of or for water ( aqu ( a ) water + -ārius -ary ) and vivarium; -arium

Explanation

Aquarium can either describe a small tank, or an entire building that houses fish and other aquatic life. Your goldfish will probably feel right at home in the aquarium that's sitting on your desk, but a whale would be better off in a big aquarium where people buy tickets to see marine life. An aquarium can be small enough to fit in the average house, or big enough to house whales and accommodate millions of tourists each year. If you're talking about more than one of those tanks filled with fish and other marine life, you could say aquariums, but aquaria, from the original Latin term, is also an acceptable plural.

Example Sentences

When community science volunteers first spotted the entangled turtle, they contacted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s stranding hotline and kept constant watch until aquarium staff could respond.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Next is a trip to the aquarium for Bianca and Amelia - costing £32 and lasting about 90 minutes, plus £15 for two photos.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

It comes as Swansea council itself has announced a £20m UK government-funded facelift for its Civic Centre, with proposals for an aquarium, lido, bars and shops.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

A Chicago aquarium overcame one in a million odds to raise a warty frogfish.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026

There’s an aquarium next to me, water glugging noisily through its filter.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day