classroom

American  

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

noun

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

If they accept, the drivers are sat in a classroom where they face an array of questions from children aged 10 and 11.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

To get to and from his classroom, Elroy jets through a series of air tubes called the “school homing network.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

But as the machines possess neither of those qualities, it’s unlikely they would be able to impart them in a classroom.

From Salon • Mar. 30, 2026

AI is just one more thing we all have to worry about now — in the classroom, in the workplace, in the zeitgeist.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

This place just keeps getting weirder and weirder, I thought, turning back toward the Nuance and Observation classroom.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin