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

Florida beats every other state, WalletHub says, in number of restaurants, amusement parks, arcades, marinas and music festivals per capita. —Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

With the largest indoor water park in Michigan, an on-site arcade, indoor mini golf, multiple eateries (including one focused on fried chicken, of course), the Bavarian Inn Lodge is a lovely base for a family getaway. —Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025

Deck 17 will include a retro-inspired arcade, the Scenic Overlook Bar with outdoor games, a new mini golf course that will be lit at night, a toddler playground and a new Treehouse adventure trail with obstacles, netted bridges and a slide. —Eve Chen, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025

At Game On, restaurant meets bowling alley and arcade. —Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 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