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

Posters and busts paying tribute to him paint the plaza where he was killed. — Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Hawkers cannot solicit, negotiate or sell tickets or anything on parkland, which includes the subway station plazas and the sidewalks. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026

The community college renamed its plaza in Huerta’s honor in 2019. — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

The arena will also include places for fans to hang out pre- and postgame, along with a fan plaza. — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 27 Oct. 2026

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