gladiator
noun
glad·i·a·tor
ˈgla-dē-ˌā-tər 
1
: a person engaged in a fight to the death as public entertainment for ancient Romans
2
: a person engaging in a public fight or controversy
3
: a trained fighter
especially
: a professional boxer
Examples of gladiator in a Sentence
the two punch-drunk gladiators stumbled to their corners
Recent Examples on the Web
Here, he was portrayed as a devoted father, a health-and-fitness addict, a gladiator raging against the ravages of professional athletics.
—
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025
Starz has released the first look at its upcoming gladiator drama Spartacus: House of Ashur, the next chapter in the Spartacus franchise.
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
And what if he had instead been gifted the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus, putting an end to the slave rebellion?
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2025
And some people love the gladiator aspect of it — the fight.
—Judy Kurtz, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gladiator 
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Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025
Starz has released the first look at its upcoming gladiator drama Spartacus: House of Ashur, the next chapter in the Spartacus franchise.
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
And what if he had instead been gifted the gladiator school once owned by Batiatus in return for aiding the Romans in killing Spartacus, putting an end to the slave rebellion?
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2025
And some people love the gladiator aspect of it — the fight.
—Judy Kurtz, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gladiator
Dictionary Entries Near gladiator
Cite this Entry
“Gladiator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gladiator. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gladiator
noun
glad·i·a·tor
ˈglad-ē-ˌāt-ər
1
: a person engaged in a fight to the death for public entertainment in ancient Rome
2
: a person engaging in a fierce fight or controversy
Etymology
from Latin gladiator, literally, "swordsman," from gladius "sword" — related to gladiolus
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