gymnasium
1 Americannoun
plural
gymnasiums, gymnasia-
a building or room designed and equipped for indoor sports, exercise, or physical education.
-
a place where Greek youths met for exercise and discussion.
noun
plural
gymnasiums, gymnasianoun
-
a large room or hall equipped with bars, weights, ropes, etc, for games or physical training
-
(in various European countries) a secondary school that prepares pupils for university
Other Word Forms
- gymnasial adjective
Etymology
Origin of gymnasium1
1590–1600; < Latin: a public school for gymnastics < Greek gymnásion gymnastic school (derivative of gymnázein to train in the nude
Origin of gymnasium2
1685–95; < German; special use of gymnasium 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What I heard and witnessed that day in a gymnasium in the middle of coal country has remained with me all these years later.
From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026
Original signage from when the Lasky-DeMille Barn was used as Paramount’s gymnasium.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026
The interiors of the home, however, were mostly created and shot on a soundstage built in a nearby abandoned high school gymnasium, where the film’s production offices were also located.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 29, 2025
Its gymnasium and dormitories need repairs and upgrades.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025
She averted her eyes as she limped past the wall of the gymnasium where a few mothers had ducked out of the afternoon PTA meeting to smoke.
From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
