arcade

noun

ar·​cade är-ˈkād 

plural arcades

1

: a long arched building or gallery

2

a

: an arched covered passageway or avenue (as between shops)

b

chiefly British : a building that includes many shops

A job fair … today will introduce locals to the details of the 250 jobs that a new shopping arcade will bring when its doors open this autumn.

—The Journal (Newcastle, England)

3

: a series of arches with their columns or piers

4

: an amusement center having coin-operated games

Examples of arcade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Max Funland, a new second-floor arcade on Broadway, opened five hours early for two small groups that had paid to reserve seats alongside its parade-facing windows. —Dan Greene, New Yorker, 20 June 2026

In what is likely to be a powerful move that will reshape the city’s iconic shopping arcade, Prada Galleria will open in September as a multifloor experience located at the heart of Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. —Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 19 June 2026

Christiansted’s arcades and butter‑yellow warehouses set a historic tone, while Frederiksted leans more Creole with gingerbread trim and wide verandas. —David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026

Bell said that the family pioneered the free play arcade business model in 1990, all while not selling alcohol at the business like other entertainment centers. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Italian arcata, from arco arch, from Latin arcus

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing arcade

• amusement arcade
• arcade game
• penny arcade
• video arcade

Rhymes for arcade

• afraid
• allayed
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted
• cascade

Kids Definition

arcade

noun

ar·​cade är-ˈkād 

1

: a row of arches with the columns that support them

2

: an arched or covered passageway (as between shops)

3

: a place with many games to be played by putting coins or tokens in them

Medical Definition

arcade

noun

ar·​cade är-ˈkād 

1

: an anatomical structure comprising a series of arches

2

: dental arch