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

Her octopus was named Marcellus McSquiddles, an aging crank who notes his days of captivity in a Puget Sound aquarium as if on death row, but also recognizes the night janitor, Tova, is lonely and grieving. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

The film, starring Field as Tova and Pullman as Cameron, tells the story of a widow who works at an aquarium in the beautiful Puget Sound region of Washington. —Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026

Mosquitoes can also breed indoors under the right circumstances — in vases, indoor plants, pet bowls, drains, toilets, unfiltered aquariums and dirty dishes. —Ryan Brennan april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026

Planned features for the new Water District include a rooftop restaurant and a marine aquarium. —Bri Buckley, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026

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

• cerium
• armamentarium
• herbarium
• ovarium
• puparium
• samarium
• zoarium
• 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