sauna

noun

sau·​na ˈsȯ-nə  ˈsau̇-nə 

1

: a Finnish steam bath in which the steam is provided by water thrown on hot stones

also : a bathhouse or room used for such a bath

2

: a dry heat bath

also : a room or cabinet used for such a bath

Examples of sauna in a Sentence

The health club has a pool and a sauna.

He talked about the benefits of taking a sauna regularly.

Recent Examples on the Web

After a long day of activity, head to the spa to relax in the dry sauna and hot tub or book a massage for even more pampering. —Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 6 May 2026

Reserve Suite guests can also order an in-room sauna or cold plunge experience. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026

Look for treatments like hot stone massage, hydrotherapy and cryotherapy, plus thermal circuits with saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge pools and salt caves. —Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026

Look for thermal circuits that include saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge pools and salt caves — features designed to support circulation, recovery and relaxation in sequence. —Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Finnish

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sauna

• ana
• bwana
• dhyana
• donna
• fauna
• gonna
• mana
• tswana
• wanna
• asana
• chicana
• iguana

Kids Definition

sauna

noun

sau·​na ˈsau̇-nə  ˈsȯ-nə 

: a Finnish steam bath

Medical Definition

sauna

noun

sau·​na ˈsau̇-nə  ˈsȯ-nə 

1

: a Finnish steam bath in which the steam is provided by water thrown on hot stones

also : a bathhouse or room used for such a bath

2

: a dry heat bath

also : a room or cabinet used for such a bath