gondola

noun

gon·​do·​la

(usual for sense 1)

ˈgän-də-lə  gän-ˈdō- 

1

: a long narrow flat-bottomed boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice

2

a

: an elongated car attached to the underside of an airship

b

: an often spherical airtight enclosure suspended from a balloon for carrying passengers or instruments

c

: an enclosed car suspended from a cable and used for transporting passengers

especially : one used as a ski lift

3

: a heavy flat-bottomed boat used on New England rivers and on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers

4

: a railroad car with no top, a flat bottom, and fixed sides that is used chiefly for hauling heavy bulk commodities

Illustration of gondola

• gondola 1

Examples of gondola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For hardcore skiers, a night at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge, only accessible by gondola, is a must. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2025

Minutes from Whistler Village, the resort offers easy access to shops, dining, the PEAK 2 PEAK gondola, and outdoor adventures like kayaking on Alta Lake. BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: 11 budget-friendly family vacations in the U.S. that really pack in the fun 4. —Jean Chen Smith, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025

Take a gondola ferry A standard gondola ride costs €90 for 30 minutes during the day or €110 at night, but there’s a money-saving hack that the locals use. —Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 13 Mar. 2025

Venice, with its winding canals, centuries-old architecture, and romantic gondola rides, has long been hailed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian dialect (Venetian), probably from Middle Greek kontoura small vessel

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gondola

noun

gon·​do·​la ˈgän-də-lə ( 

usual for sense 1

) 

gän-ˈdō-

1

: a long narrow boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice

2

: a railroad car with low sides and no top used for hauling loose freight

3

: an enclosure that hangs from something: as

a

: the part of a balloon in which passengers or instruments are carried

b

: a car that hangs from a cable and is used especially as a lift for skiers