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

The Business Journal reported last month that the virtual reality arcade had filed plans for a Galleria location. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

The family entertainment center provides activities like miniature golf, batting cages, arcade, golf karts, an indoor playground and sells food and snacks. — Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2026

While kids played Pac-Man at the arcade, organizations began connecting online and found an easier path to compete in the global economy through email and instant access to information. — Haris Pylarinos, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Most of Italy’s fashion elite gathered under one roof Tuesday for Vogue’s annual fashion spectacle in the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade, featuring performances by Alicia Keys and Italian ballet star Roberto Bolle. — ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026

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