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
There were dancing gladiators and moka pots, a phalanx of runway models dressed (in Armani) in green, white and red, to represent the Italian flag.
—
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Reality contestants in novels should be gladiators fighting to the death.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
From left, a gladiator fight scene etched into a wall in ancient Pompeii, and researchers' rendering of the illustration.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Maximus seeks revenge by competing in the gladiator games in the hope of eventually taking down Commodus.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gladiator
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Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Reality contestants in novels should be gladiators fighting to the death.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
From left, a gladiator fight scene etched into a wall in ancient Pompeii, and researchers' rendering of the illustration.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Maximus seeks revenge by competing in the gladiator games in the hope of eventually taking down Commodus.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gladiator
Cite this Entry
“Gladiator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gladiator. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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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