trampoline

American  

[tram-puh-leen, tram-puh-leen, -lin] / ˌtræm pəˈlin, ˈtræm pəˌlin, -lɪn /

noun

1. a sheet, usually of canvas, attached by resilient cords or springs to a horizontal frame several feet above the floor, used by acrobats and gymnasts as a springboard in tumbling.

2. Nautical. a fabric deck stretched on the braces connecting the hulls of a catamaran or trimaran, resembling a gymnastic trampoline.

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trampoline British  

/ -ˌliːn, ˈtræmpəlɪn /

noun

1. a tough canvas sheet suspended by springs or elasticated cords from a frame, used by acrobats, gymnasts, etc

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verb

1. (intr) to exercise on a trampoline

Other Word Forms

• trampoliner noun
• trampolinist noun

Etymology

Origin of trampoline

1790–1800; variant of trampolin < Italian trampolino springboard, equivalent to trampol ( i ) stilts (< Germanic; see trample) + -ino -ine ¹

Explanation

A trampoline is a piece of gym equipment that's made for bouncing. Some people have trampolines in their yards so they can bounce and flip whenever they want to, while others go to trampoline parks to fulfill their bouncing needs. Professional trampolines are extremely sturdy, made of a large piece of durable fabric stretched tightly across a raised frame of springs. It may appear that the surface of a trampoline is stretchy, but it's actually the springs that provide the bounce, not the fabric. Jumping on a trampoline can be dangerous, especially if there are several people doing it at the same time. Trampoline comes from the Spanish trampolin, "springboard."

Example Sentences

We had five bedrooms and baths, a 40-foot living room, a Steinway grand, a huge dining table and a trampoline out back.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

The resulting patchy surfaces drew criticism at the 2024 Copa America, with players complaining of "frustrating" pitches that felt like "a trampoline."

From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026

Lyskun told Russian newspaper Izvestia, external that over recent years she realised she was no longer "growing" under her coaches in Ukraine, who were "all gymnasts or trampoline athletes".

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025

In a series of posts shared on her Instagram Stories, Biles revealed images of the home’s lakefront pool and basketball court, before heading over to test out the in-ground trampoline.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 23, 2025

We jumped on her trampoline and I’d wanted to tell her I wouldn’t be at school the next week.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry