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Synonyms

gymnasium

1 American  
[jim-ney-zee-uhm] / dʒɪmˈneɪ zi əm /

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 American  
[gim-nah-zee-uhm] / gɪmˈnɑ zi əm /

noun

plural

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


gymnasium British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • gymnasial adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nike, the shoe company, took over the campus recently re-making the gymnasium, cleaning all the banners hanging from the walls, putting up signs and using the auditorium to make it a shoe store.

From Los Angeles Times

What I heard and witnessed that day in a gymnasium in the middle of coal country has remained with me all these years later.

From Salon

He stood inside the door of the gymnasium and looked quickly around.

From Literature

There’s the “gymnasium”—a giant room with shiny floors and bright white lights that make my eyes hurt.

From Literature

Original signage from when the Lasky-DeMille Barn was used as Paramount’s gymnasium.

From Los Angeles Times