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.
One constant is the promise of a sauna (and an icy plunge) at the end of the day. — Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026 Guests staying in Family Concierge and The Reserve—as well as anyone booking a spa treatment—also receive one hour of complimentary access to the YHI Spa's hydrotherapy circuit, complete with a steam room, sauna, plunge pool, and hydrotherapy pools. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026 That rush of insights went unscribbled, since notebooks don’t make sense in a sauna. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026 The basement adds a multipurpose room with a sauna and gym, along with a laundry room and subterranean parking. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 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 6 Sep. 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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sauna

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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