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
Examples of gladiator in a Sentence
the two punch-drunk gladiators stumbled to their corners
Recent Examples on the Web
Cussing in a gladiator sport like football shouldn’t draw much attention.
—
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026
Across the foot and ankle, adjustable leather straps wrapped through silver-tone hardware, while a tall shield-like panel rose over the front of the foot and up the shin, giving the sandal a gladiator shape pushed through Owens’ industrial lens.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
In previous summers, gladiator sandals and slides reigned supreme in my closet—and heart.
—Tessa Petak, InStyle, 21 May 2026
The find also suggests female beast hunters persisted for several decades longer than female gladiators who fought other people, Manas says.
—Taylor Mitchell Brown, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gladiator
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Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 May 2026
Across the foot and ankle, adjustable leather straps wrapped through silver-tone hardware, while a tall shield-like panel rose over the front of the foot and up the shin, giving the sandal a gladiator shape pushed through Owens’ industrial lens.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
In previous summers, gladiator sandals and slides reigned supreme in my closet—and heart.
—Tessa Petak, InStyle, 21 May 2026
The find also suggests female beast hunters persisted for several decades longer than female gladiators who fought other people, Manas says.
—Taylor Mitchell Brown, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gladiator
Cite this Entry
“Gladiator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gladiator. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Etymology
from Latin gladiator, literally, "swordsman," from gladius "sword" — related to gladiolus
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