spa

The word “spa” means a resort or facility offering mineral baths, hot tubs, or treatments for relaxation and health. In plain terms, a place (or tub) for relaxing baths and wellness treatments.

“Spa” is pronounced SPAH (/ˈspɑ/ in IPA).

Here is “spa” used in a sentence: “They spent the weekend at a spa to unwind.”

Words with a similar meaning to “spa” include health club and resort.

“Spa” is a noun.

The word “spa” dates back to around 1500. Named after the Belgian town of Spa, famous since medieval times for its mineral springs; English adopted the word as a generic term for any similar health resort starting in the 1500s-1600s.

“Spa” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Spa” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a resort or facility offering mineral baths, hot tubs, or treatments for relaxation and health.

A spa is a facility or resort offering baths, treatments, and relaxation services, and can also mean a hot tub. A sauna is a specific hot room, usually dry or steam-based, used to induce sweating, and is often just one feature found within a spa.

In one sense, 'spa' is another word for a hot tub or whirlpool bath. More broadly, a spa is an entire facility or resort offering mineral baths and treatments, whereas a hot tub is only the heated pool itself.

A salon focuses mainly on hair, nails, and beauty services. A spa emphasizes relaxation and wellness treatments such as massages, baths, and body therapies, although some services overlap between the two.

A day spa is a facility that offers spa treatments on a visit-by-visit basis, without overnight accommodation. Guests come for services like massages, facials, and baths and leave the same day.