classroom

American  

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

noun

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.

Etymology

Origin of classroom

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

Example Sentences

What once functioned as supplemental classroom software has effectively become critical educational infrastructure.

From Salon • May 9, 2026

She has served as a board member at Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo and the Waymakers Foundation and volunteered in a fifth-grade classroom through Project LEAD.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

For evacuees like Ramon Adino, 68, who is living in a cramped school classroom with 12 other families, a return to "normal life" is now just a matter of waiting.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

This collaboration enables and supports all students to excel—adapting learning modalities to their specific needs, using advanced technology, and employing specially trained teachers alongside classroom educators.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Yao seemed to be some kind of a nephew to the master, which was why, if this place of nightmares had been a classroom, he’d have been the prefect.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo