gym

American  

[jim] / dʒɪm /

noun

1. a gymnasium.

2. Informal. physical education.

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gym British  

/ dʒɪm /

noun

1. short for gymnasium gymnastics gymnastic

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Etymology

Origin of gym

First recorded in 1870–75; by shortening

Explanation

A gym is a building or room that's meant for playing indoor sports or exercising. You might go to the gym to pump iron, or you might go to the gym to see who else is pumping iron. The word gym is a shortened form of gymnasium, originally a Latin word meaning "school for gymnastics," from the Greek gymnasion, "public place where exercises are practiced." The preferred way to dress at a gym these days is in shorts or sweatpants, but back in Ancient Greece, men commonly exercised naked — hence the root gymnazein, "to train naked."

Example Sentences

He uses elite-level gym and rehabilitation facilities, including his own home hyperbaric oxygen chamber to aid recovery and reduce fatigue.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Function Health, for one, offers members upward of 160 lab tests a year for $365 and recently partnered with Equinox to give a discount to members of the gym.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

It’s a tribute to coach Joe Manzo and his players’ ability to overcome the unavailability of the school gym after it was damaged by flooding in the fall.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

The five-bedroom mansion with soaring ceilings and a gourmet kitchen features a rockin’ lower level that includes a wine cellar, gym, massage room, creative work area, kitchen, vocal booth, den, and guest suite.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

I get on the court, and the ball bounces loudly in the empty gym.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

Related Words

• act
• action
• activity
• drill
• examination
• lesson
• movement
• operation
• performance
• problem
• study
• task
• test
• training
• workout