arena

noun

are·​na ə-ˈrē-nə How to pronounce arena (audio)
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.
The singer had just gotten off the road from her Strip Love arena tour. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 May 2025 This means that tech leaders need to be corporate athletes—an individual who sustains high performance through routines, resilience and recovery—and elite performers in an arena where the rules change mid-game. Rosalba Carandente, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 Uchis indeed has big plans for this summer, including a North American arena tour, which kicks off Aug. 14 in Portland, Ore. and includes an Aug. 20 stop at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025 Wagner’s interests away from the entertainment arena are instructive. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 14 May 2025 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 23 May. 2025.

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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