terrarium

American  

[tuh-rair-ee-uhm] / təˈrɛər i əm /

noun

plural

terrariums, terraria

1. a vivarium for land animals (aquarium ).

2. a glass container, chiefly or wholly enclosed, for growing and displaying plants.

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terrarium British  

/ tɛˈrɛərɪəm /

noun

1. an enclosure for keeping small land animals

2. a glass container, often a globe, in which plants are grown

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Etymology

Origin of terrarium

First recorded in 1885–90; terr(a) + -arium

Compare meaning

How does terrarium compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• vivarium vs. terrarium

Example Sentences

There was a basketball court, wading pools, a library, a terrarium, chess tables, a gym, bicycles and a snack room filled entirely with products from Feastables, Donaldson’s snack company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

Earth isn’t an isolated terrarium, and life upon it has been as influenced by impacts and near misses as by continental drift.

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2024

The American remake of "The Office" transformed the blank environs of an office supplies wholesaler into an adorable terrarium.

From Salon • Mar. 1, 2024

They share a terrarium in a fifth grade classroom in Florida, and when Leo realizes he’s reaching the end of his reptilian life span, he has a sudden urge to escape and see the world.

From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2024

But a long time ago the glass ceiling over the terrarium had cracked, and so everything was dead, and there was moon dust all over everything out there.

From "Feed" by M.T. Anderson