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

Foo Bar brings back the nostalgic arcade of your youth, mashed with a cocktail bar that isn’t to be missed. —Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025

Guests are a 15-minute walk to the Duomo and a 12-minute walk to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan’s oldest shopping arcade. —Jennifer Bradley Franklin, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025

Residents have access to the building’s amenities, including a screening room, an arcade and billiards room, a gym with pilates and yoga studios, a squash court, and a golf simulator. —Architectural Digest, 17 Dec. 2025

An arcade version of the NBA Jam video game is buzzing next to a wooden armoire graced by family photos. —Kansas City Star, 16 Dec. 2025

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