gymnasium

¹

[jim-ney-zee-uhm]

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.

gymnasium

²

[gim-nah-zee-uhm]

noun

plural

gymnasiums, gymnasia 

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

gymnasium

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• gymnasial adjective

Word History and Origins

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 gymnasium²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gymnasium¹

C16: from Latin: school for gymnastics, from Greek gumnasion, from gumnazein to exercise naked, from gumnos naked

Example Sentences

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

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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.

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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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Its gymnasium and dormitories need repairs and upgrades.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He said that he had to tag and bag a gymnasium full of dead boys his own age.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amphitheater 
• gym 
• rink 
• stadium 
• theater