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

Return to Kyoto and explore the Kyoto Nishiki Market, a narrow arcade lined with over 100 food vendors. —Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Dec. 2025

Researchers found that to introduce arcade classics like Pac-Man, Dig Dug or Q*bert to new audiences, designers need to take the essence of each game and create new experiences. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2025

Amenities include indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs, e-bike rentals and an arcade with billiards and bowling. —Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 3 Dec. 2025

Gamers of a certain age will remember when beat-’em-ups ruled arcades. —Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 1 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