gladiator

noun

glad·​i·​a·​tor ˈgla-dē-ˌā-tər 

1

: a person engaged in a fight to the death as public entertainment for ancient Romans

2

: a person engaging in a public fight or controversy

3

: a trained fighter

especially : a professional boxer

gladiatorial

ˌgla-dē-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

Synonyms of gladiator

• boxer
• fighter

Examples of gladiator in a Sentence

the two punch-drunk gladiators stumbled to their corners

Recent Examples on the Web

In this alternate history, set around six months after the events of War of the Damned, Ashur is rewarded by the Republic for helping crush the slave rebellion and given control of the gladiator school previously owned by Batiatus. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2025

Quintessential Kurt Geiger styles including the Islington sneaker and the Octavia gladiator sandal also get the holiday treatment with jeweled embellishments. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025

Kardashian then paired the look with strappy, gladiator stiletto heels for her evening out in the city. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

That is gladiators without swords. —Bryan West, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from gladius sword, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh cleddyf sword

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gladiator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Kids Definition

gladiator

noun

glad·​i·​a·​tor ˈglad-ē-ˌāt-ər 

1

: a person engaged in a fight to the death for public entertainment in ancient Rome

2

: a person engaging in a fierce fight or controversy

gladiatorial

ˌglad-ē-ə-ˈtōr-ē-əl 

-ˈtȯr-

adjective

Etymology

from Latin gladiator, literally, "swordsman," from gladius "sword" — related to gladiolus