gymnasium

¹

[jim-ney-zee-uhm]

noun

plural

gymnasiums, gymnasia 

1. a building or room designed and equipped for indoor sports, exercise, or physical education.

2. a place where Greek youths met for exercise and discussion.

gymnasium

²

[gim-nah-zee-uhm]

noun

plural

gymnasiums, gymnasia 

1. (often initial capital letter),  (in continental Europe, especially Germany) a classical school preparatory to the universities.

gymnasium

/ dʒɪmˈneɪzɪəm /

noun

1. a large room or hall equipped with bars, weights, ropes, etc, for games or physical training

2. (in various European countries) a secondary school that prepares pupils for university

Other Word Forms

• gymnasial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gymnasium¹

1590–1600; < Latin: a public school for gymnastics < Greek gymnásion gymnastic school (derivative of gymnázein to train in the nude

Origin of gymnasium²

1685–95; < German; special use of gymnasium ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of gymnasium¹

C16: from Latin: school for gymnastics, from Greek gumnasion, from gumnazein to exercise naked, from gumnos naked

Example Sentences

He said that he had to tag and bag a gymnasium full of dead boys his own age.

From Los Angeles Times

Athletic facilities include two baseball fields, a football stadium, a soccer field, multiple basketball and tennis courts, a swimming pool and a large gymnasium.

From Los Angeles Times

The new sign will go up in a ceremony Sunday between 1-3 p.m. in the parking lot of his gymnasium.

From Los Angeles Times

Hundreds of mostly white, older constituents spilled over from Cuesta College’s performing arts center to an overflow room in the campus gymnasium.

From Los Angeles Times

The main gymnasium floor is covered in rubble and the exterior of the building has large portions of its siding barely hanging onto its frame.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amphitheater 
• gym 
• rink 
• stadium 
• theater