plaza

noun

pla·​za ˈplä-zə  ˈpla- 

1

a

: a public square in a city or town

b

: an open area usually located near urban buildings and often featuring walkways, trees and shrubs, places to sit, and sometimes shops

2

: a place on a thoroughfare (such as a turnpike) at which all traffic must temporarily stop (as to pay tolls)

3

: an area adjacent to an expressway which has service facilities (such as a restaurant, gas station, and restrooms)

4

: shopping center

Examples of plaza in a Sentence

They put his statue in the town's plaza.

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, the area where the Tin Shop currently stands is set to become a downtown plaza that will include things like a public restroom facility and seating, according to past reporting. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025

It was followed a year ago by a roughly two-mile segment that starts at an instantly popular playground behind the city’s Simpson Park, then runs through the Vizcaya Metrorail station, where there is a plaza for yoga classes and other activities, to 19th Avenue. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2025

The area is near a shopping plaza with multiple businesses and restaurants. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025

Those and other displays tell the story of all the war memorials around campus — a tale particularly amplified by a World War I memorial plaza just outside the north end of the stadium that was built in partnership with the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City. —Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Latin platea broad street — more at place

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing plaza

• toll plaza

Rhymes for plaza

• causa

Kids Definition

plaza

noun

pla·​za ˈplaz-ə  ˈpläz- 

: a public square in a city or town