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.

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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

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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

See Examples For:

pavilion pavilions

The town's sports pavilion is named after Navas and Ruiz and Gavi will now have football fields renamed after them as a tribute to their achievements.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were sent to the scene, where the fire destroyed just over half of the pavilion before it was brought under control at 21:25.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

"It successfully generated enough formic acid to power a miniature diorama in the pavilion, showing its potential as an efficient artificial photosynthesis system that could potentially be used to charge applications in our homes."

From Science Daily ● Jun. 11, 2026

There is also a rooftop garden with views of the Hollywood sign, a reflective garden, classroom spaces for educational programs, an open-air performance plaza and a pavilion housing a Holocaust-era boxcar.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026

Paul Marshall banged his hands together and the sound ricocheted between the columns and the back wall of the pavilion.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

The address kicked off the Great American State Fair, a free festival marking the semiquincentennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with state pavilions, military flyovers, music and patriotic displays.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

Fans in the right-field pavilions continued to chant “sell the team.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026

The canal-side gardens of the Biennale are home to dozens of stylish national pavilions that operate as showcases for their owners.

From BBC ● May 6, 2026

Qatar, the Emirates and Saudi Arabia all had pavilions along the main drag in town to tout the future of their countries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

The barricades and the pavilions were decorated with doth.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• structure