sauna

noun

sau·​na ˈsȯ-nə How to pronounce sauna (audio) ˈsau̇-nə How to pronounce sauna (audio)
1
: a Finnish steam bath in which the steam is provided by water thrown on hot stones
also : a bathhouse or room used for such a bath
2
: a dry heat bath
also : a room or cabinet used for such a bath

Examples of sauna in a Sentence

The health club has a pool and a sauna. He talked about the benefits of taking a sauna regularly.
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.
If this doesn't promote you into a zen-like state, check out the three saunas and a steam bath. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 On-property amenities are similar to those in classic vacation resorts, such as restaurants, two pools, a gym, and saunas. — Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2026 One study showed that exercise was slightly more effective for this than static exposure to hot environments, such as saunas. — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 1 July 2026 For months, teams have strategized about how best to prepare their athletes for this kind of heat and humidity—with post-training saunas, hot-water immersion, sweaty outdoor workouts, and heat-training camps. — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sauna

Word History

Etymology

Finnish

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sauna was in 1881

Rhymes for sauna

See All Rhymes for sauna

Browse Nearby Words

Saumur
sauna
saunderswood
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sauna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sauna. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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sauna

noun
sau·​na ˈsau̇-nə How to pronounce sauna (audio) ˈsȯ-nə How to pronounce sauna (audio)
1
: a Finnish steam bath in which the steam is provided by water thrown on hot stones
also : a bathhouse or room used for such a bath
2
: a dry heat bath
also : a room or cabinet used for such a bath

More from Merriam-Webster on sauna

Nglish: Translation of sauna for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sauna

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