arena

noun

are·​na ə-ˈrē-nə How to pronounce arena (audio)
Synonyms of arenanext
1
: an area in a Roman amphitheater for gladiatorial combats
2
a
: an enclosed area used for public entertainment
b
: a building containing an arena
3
a
: a sphere of interest, activity, or competition
the political arena
b
: a place or situation for controversy
in the public arena

Examples of arena in a Sentence

Congress became an arena of opposing views. the toughest political arena in the world The economic arena has been dominated by that country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With the Innovative Accessories Challenge, Istituto Marangoni Firenze positions accessories as a key arena for future-facing design, offering emerging creatives a concrete opportunity to translate experimentation into professional growth. Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 15 Jan. 2026 Grohl screamed, screeched and ran all around the stage, the guitars filled the arena with feedback noises, and the band hosted a temple of rock worship. Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026 The new headline act is the space-age Co-op Live arena on the city’s eastern flank, which opened in May 2024 and is now officially Britain’s largest indoor venue. Jonathan Thompson, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026 With City Hall’s future and Mavericks arena site still undecided, ambiguity about the new convention center’s exact location and construction timeline also casts uncertainty about whether Memorial Auditorium will be ready by the May start of the 2027 season. Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for arena

Word History

Etymology

Latin harena, arena sand, sandy place

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arena was in 1600

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arena. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

arena

noun
are·​na ə-ˈrē-nə How to pronounce arena (audio)
1
: an enclosed area used for public entertainment
2
: a building containing an arena
3
: a field of activity
the political arena

More from Merriam-Webster on arena

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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