arena

noun

are·​na ə-ˈrē-nə 

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

Synonyms of arena

• auditorium
• amphitheater

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

The transition to Division I was funded by $32 million in donor funds, including a chunk from Don Mullett, whose name currently graces the program’s home arena. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026

The fan was allowed to return to his seat after arena security found no violation of the Fever’s conduct code. — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Those garlands of noise suggest that this show will be geared more toward communal arena rock than introspective bedroom pop. — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Paris — Paris Fashion Week, the biggest arena for the industry’s battle of ideas, is in full swing. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin harena, arena sand, sandy place

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing arena

• arena football
• arena theater

Rhymes for arena

• athena
• cantina
• carina
• carmina
• catena
• czarina
• domina
• farina
• galena
• glossina
• hyena
• kachina

Kids Definition

arena

noun

are·​na ə-ˈrē-nə 

1

: an enclosed area used for public entertainment

2

: a building containing an arena

3

: a field of activity

the political arena