gondola

noun

gon·do·la ˈgän-də-lə

(usual for sense 1)

gän-ˈdō-

Synonyms of gondola

: a long narrow flat-bottomed boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice

: an elongated car attached to the underside of an airship

: an often spherical airtight enclosure suspended from a balloon for carrying passengers or instruments

: an enclosed car suspended from a cable and used for transporting passengers

especially : one used as a ski lift

: a heavy flat-bottomed boat used on New England rivers and on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers

: a railroad car with no top, a flat bottom, and fixed sides that is used chiefly for hauling heavy bulk commodities

Examples of gondola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Through the cracks in Sepp the tuba player’s monologue, readers may try to catch a glimpse of the taciturn listener stuck in the gondola with him. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 Imbibe inside or in the adjoining garden-courtyard where passing gondolas send canal water lapping below the balustrade. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 One of the video's most memorable sequences features Madonna grooving to the dance-pop track while riding a gondola. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026 Beyond ski-in-ski-out access during the winter months, even though this 8,000-square-foot home has its own private gondola, this residence was built for year-round enjoyment. — Catherine Dunwoody, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gondola

Word History

Etymology

Italian dialect (Venetian), probably from Middle Greek kontoura small vessel

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of gondola was in 1549

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

Gondi

gondola

gondolet

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Gondola.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gondola. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gondola

noun

gon·do·la ˈgän-də-lə (

usual for sense 1

)

gän-ˈdō-

: a long narrow boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice

: a railroad car with low sides and no top used for hauling loose freight

: an enclosure that hangs from something: as

: the part of a balloon in which passengers or instruments are carried

: a car that hangs from a cable and is used especially as a lift for skiers

gondola

noun

Illustration of gondola

Examples of gondola in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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