palaestra
noun
pa·laes·tra
pə-ˈle-strə 
plural palaestrae
pə-ˈle-(ˌ)strē
1
: a school in ancient Greece or Rome for sports (such as wrestling)
2
Examples of palaestra in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In front is the palaestra, an area that would’ve been used for wrestling and combat training and which today is littered with pieces of the gymnasium’s terracotta roof tiles.
—
Barry Neild, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
See: the Greek palaestra, Turkish baths, the YMCA, the contemporary preponderance of workout-minded meetups.
—Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
Finds include a Roman palaestra (wrestling hall), mosaics, ceramics, a council building and a columned gallery.
—Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 June 2021
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Barry Neild, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
See: the Greek palaestra, Turkish baths, the YMCA, the contemporary preponderance of workout-minded meetups.
—Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
Finds include a Roman palaestra (wrestling hall), mosaics, ceramics, a council building and a columned gallery.
—Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 June 2021
Cite this Entry
“Palaestra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palaestra. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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