classroom

American  

[klas-room, -room, klahs-] / ˈklæsˌrum, -ˌrʊm, ˈklɑs- /

noun

classrooms plural

1. a room, as in a school or college, in which classes are held.

2. any place where one learns or gains experience.

   The sea is the sailor's classroom.

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classroom British  

/ -ˌrʊm, ˈklɑːsˌruːm /

noun

1. a room in which classes are conducted, esp in a school or college

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Usage

What does classroom mean? A classroom is traditionally a room in a school where a class is taught. The word classroom is commonly used to refer to such a room at every level of education, including elementary school, high school, and college. It can also be used in a more general way to refer to any space where students are being taught by a teacher. Some classrooms might not even be in a room—some schools have outdoor classrooms where students are taught outside, for example. The word is sometimes used in a figurative way to refer to the primary place where someone learns and gains experience outside of a formal educational setting, as in My grandfather didn’t have much formal schooling—the farm was his classroom. Example: I try to set up my classroom to be a space that allows each student to learn in their own way.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• classrooms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of classroom

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; class + room

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

classroom classrooms

At a secondary school in Naples, students file into a classroom for a nutrition workshop run by the Valter Longo Foundation.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

My younger brother is a teacher, so he’s usually in a classroom.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

One of Duan's favorite classroom demonstrations helps illustrate the phenomenon.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

Another 10th-grader said that the first time they walked into the biomedical classroom they realized “all the possible options of careers and work choices,” boosting her excitement to learn more.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

The bell rang, and she turned and glanced anxiously in the direction of the classroom.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

“International students and scholars bring unique perspectives to our classrooms and research teams, enriching the learning environment and helping us find more creative and effective solutions to the world’s problems,” said Stanford spokesperson Angie Davis.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

Early, intensive tutoring is one of the most effective interventions available to change that, and it’s a support that teachers want in their classrooms.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

Labor leaders say new licenses have jumped ninefold in recent years, and court reporting classrooms across the state are full.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

"Every child, whether they are in a small rural school or a large one, deserves equal access to teachers, classrooms and learning materials," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026

These drowned voices you hear aren’t coming from classrooms, but through the partitions between life and death.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell