pavilion

American  

[puh-vil-yuhn] / pəˈvɪl yən /

noun

1. a light, usually open building used for shelter, concerts, exhibits, etc., as in a park or fair.

2. any of a number of separate or attached buildings forming a hospital or the like.

3. Architecture. a projecting element of a façade, used especially at the center or at each end and usually treated so as to suggest a tower.

4. a tent, especially a large and elaborate one.

5. a small, ornamental building in a garden.

6. Also called base.  Jewelry. the part of a cut gem below the girdle.

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verb (used with object)

1. to shelter in or as if in a pavilion.

2. to furnish with pavilions.

pavilion British  

/ pəˈvɪljən /

noun

1. a building at a sports ground, esp a cricket pitch, in which players change

2. a summerhouse or other decorative shelter

3. a building or temporary structure, esp one that is open and ornamental, for housing exhibitions

4. a large ornate tent, esp one with a peaked top, as used by medieval armies

5. one of a set of buildings that together form a hospital or other large institution

6. one of four main facets on a brilliant-cut stone between the girdle and the culet

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verb

1. to place or set in or as if in a pavilion

   pavilioned in splendour

2. to provide with a pavilion or pavilions

Other Word Forms

• unpavilioned adjective

Etymology

Origin of pavilion

1250–1300; Middle English pavilon < Old French paveillon < Latin pāpiliōn- (stem of pāpiliō ) butterfly

Example Sentences

A $10 add-on ticket along with a museum ticket is required to explore the pavilion.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

The plans would see a sports hub, play area, improvements to the BMX track and refurbishment of the existing pavilion.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

Wicketkeeper-batter Seifert, who made 24, followed his opening partner back to the pavilion without troubling the score as he fell to Varun Chakravarthy's spin.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

In the humanoid pavilion, 21 out of 38 companies were from China, continuing their strong presence from last year, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 13, 2026

Westinghouse only began building its pavilion on Tuesday, May 2.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• structure