gymnasium

¹ American  

[jim-ney-zee-uhm] / dʒɪmˈneɪ zi əm /

noun

plural

gymnasiums, gymnasia

1. a building or room designed and equipped for indoor sports, exercise, or physical education.

2. a place where Greek youths met for exercise and discussion.

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gymnasium ² American  

[gim-nah-zee-uhm] / gɪmˈnɑ zi əm /

noun

plural

gymnasiums, gymnasia

1. (often initial capital letter) (in continental Europe, especially Germany) a classical school preparatory to the universities.

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gymnasium British  

/ dʒɪmˈneɪzɪəm /

noun

1. a large room or hall equipped with bars, weights, ropes, etc, for games or physical training

2. (in various European countries) a secondary school that prepares pupils for university

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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 gymnasium¹

1685–95; < German; special use of gymnasium ¹

Example Sentences

The play, an imaginative account of a group of women banding together in a gymnasium during the early days of the women’s rights movement, begins with a performer checking in on us.

From Los Angeles Times

In short order they found the gymnasium by following the scent of gym shoes.

From Literature

Still, a stream of refugees made their way to Yamagata, the prefecture west of Fukushima, where they would sleep on floors in crowded gymnasiums and municipal buildings.

From Literature

There will be a security door opened using facial recognition to allow staff to enter the main gymnasium and auxiliary gym through the parking lot.

From Los Angeles Times

Its gymnasium and dormitories need repairs and upgrades.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• amphitheater
• gym
• rink
• stadium
• theater