aquarium

noun

aquar·​i·​um ə-ˈkwer-ē-əm 

plural aquariums or aquaria ə-ˈkwer-ē-ə 

1

: a container (such as a glass tank) or an artificial pond in which living aquatic animals or plants are kept

2

: an establishment where aquatic organisms are kept and exhibited

Examples of aquarium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This special offering also covers gardens, aquariums and other unique sites in San Diego. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2025

Known for world-class fishing, the vibrant coastal town is worth visiting for stunning public beaches, an active downtown with period architecture, and plenty of chances to get in touch with nature on a wildlife boat tour or aquarium visit. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2025

The reptile was inside an aquarium that covered the entire bathroom counter, the sheriff’s office said. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025

Kidd, conservation project manager with the Sunflower Star Laboratory in the Monterey Bay area, was part of a squad set to travel to an aquarium in Alaska, where the plan was to inject the facility’s sunflower sea stars with a hormone that would induce spawning. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of aquatic vivarium

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aquarium

• tropical aquarium

Rhymes for aquarium

• herbarium
• ovarium
• puparium
• samarium
• zoarium
• armamentarium
• cerium
• honorarium
• planetarium
• sanitarium

Kids Definition

aquarium

noun

aquar·​i·​um ə-ˈkwar-ē-əm 

-ˈkwer-

plural aquariums or aquaria

-ē-ə

: a container (as a glass tank) in which living water animals or plants are kept

also : an establishment where collections of such animals or plants are kept and shown