ENGLISH
REFERENCE

gymnasium

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //dʒɪmˈneɪziəm// UK //dʒɪmnˈeɪsiəm// gym·na·si·um Archaic Formal

n. a large room or building with equipment for physical exercise and sports. You often go here to lift weights, run, or play indoor games like basketball.

n. a large room or hall equipped for physical exercise, gymnastics, and indoor sports. Often shortened to 'gym' in modern usage; the full form is now considered formal.


SIMPLE

The school built a new gymnasium for the basketball team.

CONTEXTUAL

Students are required to wear clean athletic shoes before entering the gymnasium to protect the polished wooden floor.

COMPLEX

While the local gymnasium offers a variety of weightlifting equipment, many residents prefer the outdoor tracks for their morning cardio routines during the summer months.

Synonyms
Usage

Often functions as the head of a noun phrase; the clipped form 'gym' is significantly more common in daily speech.

© 2026 English Reference