a small platform for the conductor of an orchestra, a public speaker, the recipient of a sports medal, etc.
Architecture.
a low wall forming a base for a construction, as a colonnade or dome.
a stereobate for a classical temple, especially one with perpendicular sides.
the masonry supporting a classical temple.
a raised platform surrounding the arena of an ancient Roman amphitheater having on it the seats of privileged spectators.
a counter or booth, as one at an airport for handling tickets or dispensing information.
Zoology, Anatomy. a foot.
Botany. a footstalk or stipe.
a small raised platform used by lecturers, orchestra conductors, etc; dais
a plinth that supports a colonnade or wall
a low wall surrounding the arena of an ancient amphitheatre
zoology
the terminal part of a vertebrate limb
any footlike organ, such as the tube foot of a starfish
What does -podium mean? The combining form -podium is used like a suffix meaning “footlike part.” It is very occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in botany. The form -podium comes from Greek pódion, meaning “little foot.” The Latin cognate of pódion is pēs, “foot,” and is the source of several combining forms related to the lower extremities, including -ped, -pede, and pedi-. Discover more at our Words That Use articles for each of these three forms. What are variants of -podium?The form -podium is a variant of -pode. It also shares an origin with the combining forms pod-, podo-, -pod, -poda, and -podous. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for all these forms.
1605–15; < Latin: “elevated place, balcony” < Greek pódion “little foot,” equivalent to pod- pod- + -ion diminutive suffix. See pew
From New Latin; see origin at podium
A podium is a raised platform like the kind Olympians stand on when they win a medal or like the overturned crate in the garage where you pretend to accept your Academy Award. Stepping up to a podium means taking center stage. A person might be receiving an honor or giving a speech and the added height of a podium makes that person the focus. If you wave a baton as the conductor of an orchestra or band, you'll need to stand on a podium so the musicians can see you. And, if you deliver a rousing message in a church you might use a podium, but probably shouldn't be waving a baton.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His failure to slow sufficiently for yellow flags in qualifying compromised his starting position, but recovering from seventh to the podium and holding off the Ferraris was an impressive response.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
England, who won gold in 2018, failed to make the podium at Birmingham 2022.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
If they handed out medals for wrongness, a U.S. government report 25 years ago would have won a spot on the podium.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
When Spain assembled on the podium to accept the World Cup trophy, which had been Argentina’s moments earlier, the South Americans turned their backs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
As Elsie returns to her seat, Chief Crowe steps back to her podium.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
Many boomers, who grew up reading Mailer, seeing him regularly on TV, in gossip columns and on college campus podia, took him as a given.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2022
See her brave the weather at tarmacs, outdoor podia, and tourist hotspots below.
From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2018
There are many podia along the length of the arm, which allow the sea star to latch onto objects and walk.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015
"Que podia hacer, señores?" said the culprit, casting an appealing, imploring glance around him.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 53, No. 329, March, 1843 by Various
Aspidochirote Holothurian of the family Holothuriidae, showing the mouth surrounded by tentacles, the anus at the other end of the body, and three of the rows of podia.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various
NBA stars such as Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson wear Anta on the court, and top East African runners have taken the podiums in them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
It will be Vance striding toward planes in photographs and Vance standing behind podiums to explain why negotiations aren’t working.
From Salon ● Apr. 27, 2026
Gstrein, with just two World Cup podiums to his name, then set the pace on the second leg to dramatically snatch the lead from Kristoffersen.
From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026
They have been no stranger to World Cup podiums in recent years.
From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2026
“These are our podiums, but no pressure. You don’t have to sing.”
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
