arena

noun

are·​na ə-ˈrē-nə How to pronounce arena (audio)
1
: an area in a Roman amphitheater for gladiatorial combats
2
a
: an enclosed area used for public entertainment
b
: a building containing an arena
3
a
: a sphere of interest, activity, or competition
the political arena
b
: a place or situation for controversy
in the public arena

Examples of arena in a Sentence

Congress became an arena of opposing views. the toughest political arena in the world The economic arena has been dominated by that country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There is plenty of coarseness in American arenas totally unrelated to MAGA or Trumpism, of course. Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025 The Sharks are part of his portfolio and a new arena surrounded by an entertainment district might be the goal, but the team is not just an investment for him or an expensive bauble. Eric Stephens, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 Near the entrance, carvings of boar hunts, bear fights and acrobats recall the spectacle that once filled the arena. Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025 The eight-thousand-seat arena did just that, drawing crowds from across the state with shows from every big name in music. Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arena

Word History

Etymology

Latin harena, arena sand, sandy place

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arena was in 1600

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arena. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

arena

noun
are·​na ə-ˈrē-nə How to pronounce arena (audio)
1
: an enclosed area used for public entertainment
2
: a building containing an arena
3
: a field of activity
the political arena

More from Merriam-Webster on arena

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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