Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

gladiator

[ glad-ee-ey-ter ]

noun

  1. (in ancient Rome) a person, often a slave or captive, who was armed with a sword or other weapon and compelled to fight to the death in a public arena against another person or a wild animal, for the entertainment of the spectators.
  2. a person who engages in a fight or controversy.
  3. a prizefighter.


gladiator

/ ˈɡæɪˌɪə /

noun

  1. (in ancient Rome and Etruria) a man trained to fight in arenas to provide entertainment
  2. a person who supports and fights publicly for a cause
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of gladiator1

1535–45; < Latin 徱ٴǰ, equivalent to gladi ( us ) sword + -ٴǰ -ator
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of gladiator1

C16: from Latin: swordsman, from gladius sword
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Bite marks found on the skeleton of a Roman gladiator are the first archaeological evidence of combat between a human and a lion, experts say.

From

The California attorney general’s office indicted 30 officers last month for allegedly allowing, or in some cases arranging, so-called “gladiator fights” between youths for months inside Los Padrinos.

From

Wah said that the 11 weeks of being tackled and pushed by the "superhuman" gladiators was like being on "work experience".

From

“I felt like we were gladiators,” the otherwise soft-spoken, gray-haired retiree said with a laugh.

From

Gen. Rob Bonta said officers either coordinated or allowed 69 brawls, which he referred to as “gladiator fights,” between July and December 2023.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


gladiategladiatorial