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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.
That influence, plus long stretches playing with Treaty Oak Revival and Wetzel — and major arena acts like ZZ Top and Godsmack — led Meade to adopt a sound that rocks more than twangs. Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 29 Nov. 2025 As a result, the aftermath shifts entirely from courts to the political arena, where voters—not prosecutors—will determine any consequences. Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025 The organizers claim this year’s event will be profitable despite near-empty arenas for many games and a $20 million payout, which is met with skepticism from others in the industry. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2025 James’ impact extended beyond the arena. Denny Alfonso, New York Times, 27 Nov. 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 4 Dec. 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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