pavilion

American  

[puh-vil-yuhn] / pəˈvɪl jən /

noun

pavilions plural

1. a light, usually open building used for shelter, concerts, exhibits, etc., as in a park or fair.

2. any of a number of separate or attached buildings forming a hospital or the like.

3. Architecture. a projecting element of a façade, used especially at the center or at each end and usually treated so as to suggest a tower.

4. a tent, especially a large and elaborate one.

5. a small, ornamental building in a garden.

6. Also called base.  Jewelry. the part of a cut gem below the girdle.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to shelter in or as if in a pavilion.

2. to furnish with pavilions.

pavilion British  

/ pəˈvɪljən /

noun

1. a building at a sports ground, esp a cricket pitch, in which players change

2. a summerhouse or other decorative shelter

3. a building or temporary structure, esp one that is open and ornamental, for housing exhibitions

4. a large ornate tent, esp one with a peaked top, as used by medieval armies

5. one of a set of buildings that together form a hospital or other large institution

6. one of four main facets on a brilliant-cut stone between the girdle and the culet

---

verb

1. to place or set in or as if in a pavilion

   pavilioned in splendour

2. to provide with a pavilion or pavilions

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unpavilioned
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pavilions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pavilion

1250–1300; Middle English pavilon < Old French paveillon < Latin pāpiliōn- (stem of pāpiliō ) butterfly

Explanation

Pavilions are made for pleasure. A traveling circus takes place under a big colorful pavilion or billowing tent. A wedding might take place under a pavilion or freestanding decorative building in a garden. The word pavilion comes from the Latin papilionem meaning "tent" or literally "butterfly." Think of the sweeping beautiful wings of a butterfly and how they sort of resemble the folds of a tent. In the eighteenth century, pavilions were popular in Europe. Wealthy people would build these small temple-like buildings where they could go to reflect and find calm. Today, the word is more commonly used for big tents or outdoor spaces where events are held.

Example Sentences

Conlon’s pre-concert talks before every performance have become standing-room-only audience rituals on the second floor of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, where he shares his enthusiasm for, in particular, Mozart, Wagner and Verdi.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

Opera’s own founding in 1986 was a direct result of a visit by London’s Royal Opera to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

NASA, which had just been launched four years prior under President Dwight Eisenhower, showed off its goods in the Science Pavilion.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

Sian Berry, MP for Brighton Pavilion MP, added: "Unbearably sad news this morning. My thoughts are with the families and friends of these three women."

From BBC • May 13, 2026

Farmer’s final rounds took us to the clinic’s main adult ward, then the Children’s Pavilion, and finally the TB hospital up the hill.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• structure